12 Years a Slave

 

Solomon Northup

 

What an incredible memoir! Full of heartbreak, injustice, gut wrenching abuse and pain. But there is hope, strength, love and a strong belief to keep going. This truly unforgettable story of slavery making me more curious and hungry to learn about the horrible tragedies surrounding this American period.

 

Soloman Northup was a free man, born to an emancipated Negro slave and kidnapped from the north. Imagine coming home to find your husband has gone and having no idea of his where abouts until 12 years later.

There are parts of this book with unnecessary information and sometimes feels like it drags a bit. However without it, we probably wouldn’t be able to grasp the harrowing events that Northup lived through. He tells his story without melodrama, not dwelling on the terrible.

I really enjoyed the language Northup used with beautiful choices of words throughout.

 

I thoroughly recommend this as a must read, especially if you are a little ignorant when it comes to American slavery in the 1800’s.