Twelve Years a Slave - Enhanced Edition by Dr. Sue Eakin Based on a Lifetime Project. New Info, Images, Maps - Paperback

Twelve Years a Slave - Enhanced Edition by Dr. Sue Eakin

This authenticated edition presents Solomon Northup's riveting 1853 slave narrative, enhanced with decades of research by award-winning historian Dr. Sue Eakin. The narrative documents Northup's kidnapping in 1841 and twelve years of bondage in Louisiana's plantation country.

About This Enhanced Edition

Dr. Sue Eakin rediscovered this narrative in 1931 and dedicated her lifetime to authenticating Solomon Northup's account. This edition includes the complete original narrative plus over 100 pages of new background information, historical photographs, and detailed maps based on Dr. Eakin's extensive research.

Historical Significance

Published in 1853, TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE became an immediate catalyst in the national debate over slavery leading to the Civil War. The narrative validated Harriett Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin and significantly influenced public opinion toward abolition. Frederick Douglass praised it, stating "Its truth is far greater than fiction."

Solomon Northup's Story

Solomon Northup was an educated free man of color living in Saratoga, New York in 1841 with his wife and three children. A skilled fiddle player, he was deceived by circus promoters offering musical work in Washington, D.C. After being drugged and kidnapped, he awakened in shackles bound for the slave block. Shipped to New Orleans and assigned a slave name, he spent twelve years in Louisiana's isolated Bayou Boeuf plantation country before a courageous rescue attempt returned him to freedom.

What's Included

The narrative captures plantation society in stunning detail, documenting historical events including the collapse of a slave rebellion and the tragic stories of fellow slaves. Dr. Eakin's enhancements provide context through historical research, period photographs, and geographical maps that trace Northup's journey from New York through Washington, D.C. to Louisiana.

Movie Tie-In

This New York Times and USA Today Bestseller inspired the Golden Globe-winning film directed by Steve McQueen and produced by Brad Pitt. The audiobook features Oscar and Emmy winner Louis Gossett, Jr. A portion of proceeds supports organizations fighting modern-day human trafficking.

Dr. John Hope Franklin, past president of the American Historical Association and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, wrote to Dr. Eakin: "I can never read his account of his days in slavery, of his independence of spirit, of his determination to be free... without believing that it would make a difference in today's world if our contemporaries knew of such a man as Solomon Northup."