A documentary collection of the slave narratives from the federal writers project. The slave narratives were prepared by the federal writers project of the works progress administration for the state of texas. The history of mary prince, a west indian slave mary prince. Like the slave narratives, this work promised a true account and played on the taste. List of books and articles about slave narratives online. Comprising slave narratives, a collection of slave songs, and a calltoarms pamphlet by a free black man, the docsouth books program makes accessible in book form several compelling and enlightening texts from the nineteenth century. Narrative of the life and adventures of henry bibb, an american slave, written.
The project gutenberg ebook of slave narratives, volume. In the narratives, ball describes his experiences as a slave, including the uncertainty of slave life and the ways in which the slaves are forced to suffer inhumane conditions. Or, the life of an american slave 1859 was an abridged and unauthorized reprint of the earlier slavery in the united states 1836. Introduction to the scholarly bibliography of slave.
Many of the slave narratives that were collected during the wpa project during 19361938 are part of the library of congress slave narrative website section at the end of this webliography. Slave narratives were hugely popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with many going through multiple reprintings and selling tens of thousands of copies. Many other narratives from the collection are found in some of the books that are listed in this webliography. Although typical readers of slave narratives were white christian northerners, many african americans used these records as sources of valuable information for planning their freedom.
Andrews, university of north carolina at chapel hill, at docsouth. Freedom in the making of western culture hardcover by. The wpa slave narratives are interviews with exslaves conducted from 1936 through 1938 by the federal writers project fwp, a unit of the works progress administration wpa. Popular slavery slave narratives books showing 7 of 37 freedom.
This collection begins with a 28page introduction from editor william francis allen 18301889. The newberry library owns many original slave narratives, as well as the united states works. Sc sc africanamericans sc africanamericans, 15251865 sc slave narratives sc slave narratives and autobiographies. A folk history of slavery in the united states from interviews with former slaves, volume iv, georgia narratives, part 1, by united states. Slave songs of the united states docsouth books ebook. All books come from the university library at the university of north carolina at. Slave narrative, an account of the life, or a major portion of the life, of a fugitive or former slave, either written or orally related by the slave personally. William wells brown 18141884 escaped slavery in 1834 and became a wellknown abolitionist and author. To further their immersion into the slave culture, i have also purchased numerous slave narratives and other reference materials, including this book. As frederick douglass notes, men are whipped oftenest who are whipped easiest, a sentiment that points to the cyclical nature of violence against the. North american slave narratives collects books and articles that. The bibliography is a list of citations of known north american slave.
The docsouth collection at the internet archive includes works from the digital library documenting the american south, which offers a wealth of resources about southern history, literature, and culture. Jan 10, 2012 comprising slave narratives, a collection of slave songs, and a calltoarms pamphlet by a free black man, the docsouth books program makes accessible in book form several compelling and enlightening texts from the nineteenth century. Ebooks of slave narratives available from docsouth books. Documenting the american south docsouth, a digital publishing initiative. A narrative of the life and adventures of charles ball, a black man. Slave narratives is a compendium of writings and recollections by a diverse group of writers who exposed the realities of slave life in precivil war america and thereby challenged the conscience of a nation while laying the foundations of an african american literary tradition.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read 12 years a slave movie tiein. Slave narratives first appeared in the united states around 1703, but most were published during the era of abolitionism, from 1831 to the end of the civil war in 1865. Docsouth books editions are selected from the digital library of documenting the american south and are unaltered from the original publication. Book history and african american studies openedition journals.
Narrative of the life of moses grandy, late a slave in the. The famous depressionera works project administrations oral history has been published in three volumes, slave culture. The docsouth series uses digital technology to offer e books and printondemand publications, providing affordable and accessible editions to a new generation of scholars, students, and general readers. In fact, until the 1930s slave narratives outnumbered novels written by african americans. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Bibliography of all identified slave narratives published as broadsides, pamphlets, or books in english between 1749 and 1998. Slave narratives from the federal writers project, 19361938 contains more than 2,300 firstperson accounts of slavery and 500 blackandwhite photographs of former slaves. Sep 04, 20 12 years a slave movie tiein ebook written by solomon northup. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass by frederick douglass, incidents in the life of a slave girl by harriet an. Until the depression era slave narratives outnumbered novels written by african americans. Born into slavery in north carolina around 1786, moses grandy was bequeathed to his young playmate, his original owners son narrative of the life of moses grandy, late a slave in the united states of america docsouth books. Each book contains a short summary and is otherwise unaltered from the original publication. Andrews, series editor of the docsouth collection north american slave narratives.
Slave narratives inherently involved travel and form a significant type of travel writing. Slave songs of the united states docsouth books kindle edition by william francis allen, charles pickard ware, lucy mckim garrison. Docsouth books uses the latest digital technologies to make these works available in paperback and ebook formats. Slave songs of the united states, first published in 1867. And then there were the slave narratives personal accounts. Some of the classic texts of american literature, including the two. Project muse the history of mary prince, a west indian slave. Docsouth books are available in newly typeset paperback and ebook editions. Work projects administration gutenberg ebook filed under. One of the most prominent slave narratives published during this period was frederick douglass narrative 1845. Enslaved peoples narratives and the smithsonian smithsonian. It includes narratives published as broadsides, pamphlets, or books as well as biographies and some fictionalized accounts in english. Washington title page from a narrative of events since.
Slave narratives comprise one of the most influential traditions in american literature, shaping the form and themes of some of the most. Slave narratives a folk history of slavery in the united states from interviews ivith former slaves typewritten records prepared by the federal writers project 19361938 assembled by the library of congress project work projects administration for the district of columbia sponsored by the library of congress illustrated with photographs. North american slave narratives collects books and articles that document the individual and collective story of african americans struggling for freedom and. North american slave narratives as travel literature. Many african americans who had escaped slavery in the southern united states published autobiographies describing their lives as slaves and their new lives as free men and women. As john cox says in traveling south, travel was a necessary prelude to the publication of a narrative by a slave, for slavery could not be simultaneously experienced and written. Narratives presented proof that escape from slavery was possible while also promoting literacy as a way of achieving spiritual freedom. Currently docsouth includes sixteen thematic collections of books, diaries, posters, artifacts, letters, oral history interviews, and songs. Slave auctions, selections from 19thcentury narratives of. The project gutenberg ebook of slave narratives vol. North american slave narratives collects books and articles that document the individual and collective story of african americans struggling for freedom and human rights in the eighteenth, nineteenth, and early twentieth centuries.
North american slave narratives documents the individual and collective. In the world of the american slave, violence and control were intimately connected. On the website of documenting the american south, at. A narrative of the life and adventures of charles ball 1837 attests to both the cruelty and tenderness white owners showed their slaves. Docsouth books provide affordable and easily accessible editions to a new generation of scholars, students, and general readers. The project gutenberg ebook of slave narratives, volume xiv.
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