Twelve Years a Slave

Name: Twelve Years a Slave
Author: Solomon Northup

Twelve Years a Slave is the memoir of Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the Deep South in 1841. After being held captive for twelve years, Northup was eventually able to regain his freedom and return to his family. The book chronicles Northup’s experiences as a slave, including his struggles to survive and maintain his dignity in the face of extreme cruelty and injustice. He describes the various masters he served, the other slaves he encountered, and the harsh realities of life in the antebellum South. He also recounts his eventual rescue and his return to freedom. Twelve Years a Slave is an important historical document that provides a vivid and heartbreaking account of the horrors of slavery. It is also a testament to the strength and resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

By Solomon Northup · First published 1853 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Biography, Memoir · 22 chapters · 77,473 words

First lines

INTRODUCTORY--ANCESTRY--THE NORTHUP FAMILY--BIRTH AND PARENTAGE--MINTUS NORTHUP--MARRIAGE WITH ANNE HAMPTON--GOOD RESOLUTIONS--CHAMPLAIN CANAL--RAFTING EXCURSION TO CANADA--FARMING--THE VIOLIN--COOKING--REMOVAL TO SARATOGA--PARKER AND PERRY--SLAVES AND SLAVERY--THE CHILDREN--THE BEGINNING OF SORROW.

TO HARRIET BEECHER STOWE: WHOSE NAME, THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, IS IDENTIFIED WITH THE GREAT REFORM: THIS NARRATIVE, AFFORDING ANOTHER Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin, IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED

What this Textopian page supports

Twelve Years a Slave is listed on Textopian as a historical account by Solomon Northup, dated 1853 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Historical account
Author: Solomon Northup
Date: 1853 CE
Language: English
Genres: Historical Fiction, Biography, Memoir, Non-Fiction, Drama
Length: 77,473 words
Structure: 22 chapters, 1,731 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering Twelve Years a Slave?
How does this historical account by Solomon Northup fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Historical Fiction — The book is based on the true story of Solomon Northup, a free black man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the 19th century.
Biography — The book is based on the life of Solomon Northup, and is written in the first person narrative.
Memoir — The book is written in the first person narrative, and is based on the true story of Solomon Northup's experiences as a slave.
Non-Fiction — The book is based on the true story of Solomon Northup, and is written in the first person narrative.

More by Solomon Northup

All works by Solomon Northup