Narrative of the life of frederick douglass annotations

Douglass's best-known work is his first autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, published in 1845. At the time, some skeptics questioned whether a black man could have produced such an eloquent piece of literature. The book received generally positive reviews and became an immediate bestseller. Within three years, it had been reprinted nine times, with 11,000 copies circulating in the United States. It was also translated into French and Dutch and published in Europe.

Douglass published three versions of his autobiography during his lifetime (and revised the third of these), each time expanding on the previous one. The 1845 Narrative was his biggest seller, and probably allowed him to raise the funds to gain his legal freedom the following year, as discussed below. In 1855, Douglass published My Bondage and My Freedom. In 1881, after the Civil War, Douglass published Life and Times of Frederick Douglass, which he revised in 1892.

  • This narrative of Frederick Douglass is unabridged and contains additional annotation at the start of the book; a brief History of Slavery in America, and the Abolishment of Slavery. This will help set the stage for the narrative of Frederick Douglass that is to follow.


Immerse yourself in one of the most influential autobiographies of all time, written by one of the most remarkable individuals in American history.

Today, Frederick Douglass is remembered as a famous abolitionist in the nineteenth century.

But that statement alone doesn't fully convey who this man truly was, and how much of an impact he made.

Frederick Douglass transformed the United States through his thoughts, words, and actions.

The greatness of his achievement becomes even more apparent when you consider that he was born into slavery.

What was it really like to be a black slave in early America?

And what incredible acts of courage did it take to break free from this brutal bondage?

How did he rise above such cruel existence to eventually become a timeless icon of freedom and equality?

This freshly researched and annotated version of the original work reveals the answers to these and many more questions.

In Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, you’ll discover:

  • How a slave refused to accept an unjust fate, strived to educate himself, and finally achieved freedom
  • How illiteracy was used by slave owners as a weapon for mass control and oppression
  • How slavery was practiced across the different states, and how individual slaves were affected
  • How black resistance gave birth to abolitionism, an international movement to put an end to slavery and the slave trade
  • How the crusade to abolish slavery took on many forms, and why
  • How Douglass was instrumental not only in the abolitionist movement but also in the fight for women’s emancipation
  • Unfiltered first-hand accounts of unspeakable cruelty, social upheaval, and personal struggle and triumph
  • Morality, justice, freedom, equality, and nation-building, as seen from the eyes of a former slave

And much more.

Contrary to some assumptions, Frederick Douglass did not aim to destroy the establishment upon his freedom from enslavement.

He did not seek revenge, instigate violent riots, encourage lawlessness, or inspire divisiveness.

Instead, he set out to implement significant and lasting reforms.

He did so through the power of words, becoming a prolific author and outstanding orator.

Ultimately, he fought for the freedom and equal rights of every American regardless of race.

His influence was so profound that it still reverberates to this day, nearly two centuries after this first autobiography was written.

These raw recollections will take you from the beginning of his incredible journey to the roots of his lasting legacy.

It will help you fully appreciate and benefit from the contributions of this intellectual, cultural, and political giant.

If you’re ready to be inspired and enlightened by the most unlikely yet potent real-life success story, then scroll up and grab your copy right now.

What are the key features of Frederick Douglass narrative?

It is one of the earliest narratives written by a former American slave. Within the narrative, Douglass makes use of literary elements including symbolism and allegory, recurring themes, point of view, and syntax and diction to tell his story.

What is the purpose of Chapter 1 in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass?

The first paragraph of Douglass's Narrative demonstrates the double purpose of the work as both a personal account and a public argument. Douglass introduces the reader to his own circumstances—his birthplace and the fact that he does not know his own age.

What is the purpose of Chapter 2 of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass?

This chapter is filled with details about the plantation Douglass grew up on. It's a large plantation, with three to four hundred slaves. Douglass gives a lot of details about the kinds of food and clothing the slaves were given, which range from very little to none at all.

What is the point of view of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass?

First Person (Central) Douglass's narrative is, as the title page tells us, "Written By Himself." He's the book's main character – almost the only character – so most of the narrative is just him talking to us about himself.