• Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

  • An American Slave
  • By: Frederick Douglass
  • Narrated by: Raymond Hearn
  • Length: 4 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (3,212 ratings)

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Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass  By  cover art

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

By: Frederick Douglass
Narrated by: Raymond Hearn
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Publisher's summary

This classic of American literature, a dramatic autobiography of the early life of an American slave, was first published in 1845, when its author had just achieved his freedom. It is a story that shocked the world with its first-hand account of the horrors of slavery. The book was an incredible success. It sold over 30,000 copies and was an international best seller. His eloquence gives a clear indication of the powerful principles that led Douglas to become the first great African-American leader in the United States.

Public Domain (P)2015 Gildan Media LLC

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What listeners say about Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

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Appropriate Audio

Loved that the accent was never exaggerated and if I am not mistaken, this is one of ONLY TWO recordings of this great novel that are made in a Black man's voice. Great job.

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44 people found this helpful

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  • JC
  • 11-28-16

Made Me Cry & Laugh!

I greatly appreciate the opportunity to have been able to listen to this biography! The will of the human spirit is palpable long after Mr. Douglass' death and I'm proud to know the type of stock I come from; blacks are not just victims to the harsh institution of slavery/ America but also how through personal responsibility one can find mental and physical freedom in the face of incredible odds. At times I laughed and at times I mourned for my ancestors in reading this book but I thoroughly delighted in all of it! I highly recommend this narrator because I enjoyed hearing the voice of a black man read the biography...it connected it more for me and made the book come alive!

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33 people found this helpful

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The history that mustn't be ignored

Several times during this story I cried, my breath stopped and I had to repeat to make sure I heard it correctly. A piece of American history that everyone claiming to be educated folks need to reflect on. How much have we evolved as human species since way back when this took place? It is a very topical story as we still face times of deep injustice to too many fellow human beings. Listen to it! Read it!

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19 people found this helpful

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Chilling. Necessary.

This should be required reading for everyone. Douglass is a powerful orator and the narrator does a fantastic job.

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17 people found this helpful

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Vivid representation of the horrors of slavery

Frederick Douglass does an outstanding job of describing the sins of slavery and how an enslaved people felt just a few years prior to emancipation. Additionally, his description of how he learned to read and write shows how valuable an education was to breaking the back of slavery. I wholeheartedly recommend everyone read this book.

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11 people found this helpful

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Touched

I consider myself fortunate to have read this book. Tough I've heard about it so many years I finally took it upon myself to take the journey. what impressed me the most is that it was not a modern-day historical recount of slavery but an eyewitness account of slavery through which you can't help but feel in the depths of your soul.

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9 people found this helpful

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A fantastic story every American should read!

Douglas paints an incredible portrait of his life as a slave and his struggle for freedom. It highlights the dark history of the United States with incredible detail.

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8 people found this helpful

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A Must Listen...

I am of the opinion that a true discussion on the horrors of slavery cannot be had until one has either read or listened to this book. I have very much enjoyed this variation of “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass”, as I found the reader’s energy infectious. I doubt anyone listening to this audiobook will be disappointed.

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7 people found this helpful

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A masterpiece!<br />

An amazing look at US history. Fredrick Douglas became a distinguished writer against all odds.

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7 people found this helpful

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Powerful and Inspiring

I loved it. There was so much more that I didn't know about Frederick Douglass and I will start looking for more information.

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5 people found this helpful