Twelve Years a Slave

Solomon Northup's narrative recounts his harrowing experience of being kidnapped and sold into slavery after living as a free man in New York. He vividly describes the brutal realities of slave life in Louisiana, including the physical and emotional torment endured under various masters. Northup's encounters with slave catchers and his forced reinvention of identity highlight the dehumanizing nature of slavery. Ultimately, his chance meeting with a compassionate carpenter leads to the letters that initiate his long-awaited return to freedom, illustrating both the cruelty and resilience in the fight against slavery.