Twelve Years a Slave

Born into "e;the blessings of liberty in a free State,"e; Solomon Northup was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the Bayou Boeuf region of Louisiana's Red River Valley. Twelve Years a Slave is the chronicle of his captivity at the mercy of sadistic plantation owner Edwin Epps, who tested Northup's tenacity and self-control under the most brutal conditions. Until fate brought a Canadian abolitionist to Epps's farm, Northup thought he would never draw another free breath. To this day Northup s harrowing memoir is recognized as the most reliable, accurate eyewitness account of the daily lives of slaves. As a significant historical reference, it is unsurpassed. As an authentic narrative of a man starved of his freedom, it is unforgettable.