Originally published in 1861, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl was written by Harriet Jacobs, who tells the true story of her life as a slave in the South, and her decision to run away in order to escape vicious beatings, sexual abuse, and the possible sale of her children. Jacobs wrote this controversial account at the urgings of Boston abolitionists, but chose to write it using the name Linda Brent in order to protect the people who aided in her escape -- and evasion of capture -- from being subject to criminal prosecution. Originally scheduled to be published in serial form in The New York Tribune, the serial was canceled after the first few chapters, when it was deemed too sexually graphic for newspapers. The first-person narrative is 80,000 words long, and also touches on long discussed slavery issues such as Christianity and Slavery, the Nat Turner Rebellion, and The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. - This edition is one of the Oshun Publishing African-American History Series and contains a foreword by Karen E. Quinones Miller -- author of An Angry-Ass Black Woman - Includes a Study Guide which provides Chapter Analysis, Character Breakdown, and Useful Questions and Answers - Includes an excerpt of "The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave"

Incidents In The Life of a Slave Girl: The Life of Harriet Jacobs (With Study Guide and Historical Analysis)

Politics & Social Sciences

Jacobs, Harriet

Brent, Linda

Social Sciences

Oshun Publishing Company, Incorporated

This real-life account of the life of a slave girl gives a brutal, true account of how horrific that life was. Gripping, terrifying, and giving a glimpse into the darker side of the human psyche, it is worth a read.

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

Biographies & Memoirs

Community & Culture

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Linda Brent (the pen name of Harriet Ann Jacobs), was a former slave who escaped to the North. Her autobiography, published in 1861, was one of the first slave autobiographies.

Here is one of the few slave narratives written by a women. Slavery is a terrible thing, but it is far more terrible and harrowing for women than for men. Harriet Jacobs was owned by a brutal master who beat his slaves regularly and subjected them to indignations that were far worse. Jacobs eventually escaped her master and moved to a northern state. Though she was unable to take her children with her at the time they were later reunited. Read her powerful and compelling story. This autobiographical account by a former slave is one of the few extant narratives written by a woman. Written and published in 1861, it delivers a powerful portrayal of the brutality of slave life. Jacobs speaks frankly of her master's abuse and her eventual escape, in a tale of dauntless spirit and faith. "God . . . gave me a soul that burned for freedom and a heart nerved with determination to suffer even unto death in pursuit of liberty." In this excerpt from a letter written by Harriet Jacobs to her friend, the abolitionist Amy Post, Jacobs expresses her determination to continue her quest for freedom. Dated October 9, 1853 - less than two years after Jacobs was freed - the letter was written in response to Post's suggestion that Jacobs tell the story of her abuse and exploitation as an enslaved black woman. Eight years later, in 1861 - the same year that marked the beginning of the Civil War - Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Written by Herself was published in Boston. According to the chronology of Jacobs's life compiled by her autobiographer, Jean Fagan Yellin, the events described in Incidents narrated by "Linda Brent" mirror key incidents of Jacobs' life.

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl.: Written by Herself.

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Autobiography of a Young Mother and Fugitive Slave “I was born a slave; but I never knew it till six years of happy childhood had passed away”. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is an autobiography by a young mother and fugitive slave published in 1861 by L. Maria Child, who edited the book for its author, Harriet Ann Jacobs. Jacobs used the pseudonym Linda Brent. Jacobs began composing Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl after her escape to New York, while living and working at Idlewild, the Hudson River home of writer and publisher Nathaniel Parker Willis. Portions of her journals were published in serial form in the New-York Tribune, owned and edited by Horace Greeley. Jacobs' reports of sexual abuse were deemed too shocking for the average newspaper reader of the day, and publication ceased before the completion of the narrative. Reader be assured this narrative is no fiction. I am aware that some of my adventures may seem incredible; but they are, nevertheless, strictly true. I have not exaggerated the wrongs inflicted by Slavery; on the contrary, my descriptions fall far short of the facts. I have concealed the names of places, and given persons fictitious names. I had no motive for secrecy on my own account, but I deemed it kind and considerate towards others to pursue this course. I wish I were more competent to the task I have undertaken. But I trust my readers will excuse deficiencies in consideration of circumstances. I was born and reared in Slavery; and I remained in a Slave State twenty-seven years. Since I have been at the North, it has been necessary for me to work diligently for my own support, and the education of my children. This has not left me much leisure to make up for the loss of early opportunities to improve myself; and it has compelled me to write these pages at irregular intervals, whenever I could snatch an hour from household duties. When I first arrived in Philadelphia, Bishop Paine advised me to publish a sketch of my life, but I told him I was altogether incompetent to such an undertaking. Though I have improved my mind somewhat since that time, I still remain of the same opinion; but I trust my motives will excuse what might otherwise seem presumptuous. I have not written my experiences in order to attract attention to myself; on the contrary, it would have been more pleasant to me to have been silent about my own history. Neither do I care to excite sympathy for my own sufferings. But I do earnestly desire to arouse the women of the North to a realizing sense of the condition of two millions of women at the South, still in bondage, suffering what I suffered, and most of them far worse. I want to add my testimony to that of abler pens to convince the people of the Free States what Slavery really is. Only by experience can any one realize how deep, and dark, and foul is that pit of abominations. May the blessing of God rest on this imperfect effort in behalf of my persecuted people! —Linda Brent

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: Autobiography of a Young Mother and Fugitive Slave (Slavery in America)

Historical

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Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (with reproduction of original notice of reward offered for Harriet Jacobs)

Arc Manor

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (an African American Heritage Book)

Here is one of the few slave narratives written by a women. Slavery is a terrible thing, but it is far more terrible and harrowing for women than for men. Harriet Jacobs was owned by a brutal master who beat his slaves regularly and subjected them to indignations that were far worse. Jacobs eventually escaped her master and moved to a northern state. Though she was unable to take her children with her at the time they were later reunited. Read her powerful and compelling story.

Wilder_Publications

Harriet Jacobs, under the name Linda Brent, illustrates here the evil and depravity of slavery. From Jacob's seven years of hiding in a garret three feet high, to her harrowing escape north, to reunion with her children and freedom, it remains an outstanding example of a woman's extraordinary courage in the face of almost unbeatable odds, as well as one of the most significant testimonials in American history.

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (Signet Classics)

Turtleback Books

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Brent, Linda. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Brent, Linda

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Brent, Linda. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Incidents In The Life of a Slave Girl: The Life of Harriet Jacobs (With Study Guide and Historical Analysis)

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl.: Written by Herself.

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: Autobiography of a Young Mother and Fugitive Slave (Slavery in America)

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (with reproduction of original notice of reward offered for Harriet Jacobs)

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (an African American Heritage Book)

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (Signet Classics)