Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (NCE): 0 (Norton Critical Editions) - Softcover

Douglass, Frederick; Andrews, William L.; Mcfeely, William S.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0393969665 ISBN 13: 9780393969665

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company, 1997

Synopsis

In addition to its far-reaching impact on the antislavery movement in the United States and abroad, Douglass's fugitive slave narrative won recognition for its literary excellence, which has since earned it a place among the classics of nineteenth-century American autobiography. This Norton Critical Edition reprints the 1845 first edition of Douglass's compelling work. Explanatory annotations accompany the text. A rich selection of "Contexts" provides the reader with contemporary perspectives. Included are the little-known preface that Douglass wrote in 1846 for the second Irish edition; a public exchange of letters between A. C. C. Thompson, a former slaveholder, and Douglass; three autobiographical portraits of Douglass's parents; Douglass's account of his escape from slavery, which he chose not to include in the 1845 Narrative; samples of Douglass's use of his slave experience in two of his most influential antislavery speeches; and reminiscences by James Monroe Gregory and Elizabeth Cady Stanton of Douglass as both orator and friend. "Criticism" collects six essential assessments of the Narrative's historical and literary aspects, by William S. McFeely, Peter Ripley, Robert B. Stepto, William L. Andrews, Houston A. Baker, Jr., and Deborah E. McDowell. A Chronology and a Selected Bibliography are included.

About this title

Review:

Review of the 1st edition

'This is a book that should be on the reading list of every course on American history or literature...with its excellent notes, bibliography and appendices, this supersedes other versions available in paperback.' - Adam Lively, Times Educational Supplement

Book Description:

Douglass escaped slavery in 1838 and became a tireless campaigner for abolitionism. This autobiography lays bare the realities of slavery in antebellum America. The eloquence of Douglass' writing, with an immediacy and honesty found shocking at the time, make this an invaluable record of one of humanity's most shameful acts.

About this edition

• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0393969665
• ISBN 13: 9780393969665
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 200