Dr. Appu Sasidharan (Dasfill)'s Reviews > Twelve Years a Slave
Twelve Years a Slave
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by
This book discusses the story of Solomon Northup, born in New York and leading a peaceful life there.
He was kidnapped in Washington city, sold into slavery, and had to work as an enslaved person for 12 long years in Louisiana.
The author delineates the slave trade in Washington D.C., and New Orleans in the 19th century. We will also get detailed information regarding the functioning of cotton and sugar cultivation in Louisiana at that time.
What I learned from this book
1) Slavery
It is alarming to read that even in the 21st-century, slavery still persists in many parts of the world, even if it is illegal. The system of owning a human being by others has caused many human rights violations. There were different types of slavery, including chattel, bonded, forced labor, and sexual slavery. This biography of Solomon Northup gives us a vivid picture of slavery and how people had to suffer due to it.
2) Do people become more religious in times of crisis?
I recently read in a book that faith increased by a significant margin during the COVID pandemic. In this book, Northup also shows us how faith increases during a crisis situation we face in life.
3) What are all the hardships that the people had to suffer due to slavery?
Northup describes about the abuse, hardships, and fear he had to tolerate during his arduous life in Louisiana.
My favourite three lines from this book
What could have been better?
This is not an easy book to read. The writing style, the language, and the harrowing experiences mentioned in this book by the author will make the reading experience difficult for some people.
Rating
5/5 This is one of the best memoirs you can read, which discusses the topic of slavery.
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He was kidnapped in Washington city, sold into slavery, and had to work as an enslaved person for 12 long years in Louisiana.
The author delineates the slave trade in Washington D.C., and New Orleans in the 19th century. We will also get detailed information regarding the functioning of cotton and sugar cultivation in Louisiana at that time.
What I learned from this book
1) Slavery
It is alarming to read that even in the 21st-century, slavery still persists in many parts of the world, even if it is illegal. The system of owning a human being by others has caused many human rights violations. There were different types of slavery, including chattel, bonded, forced labor, and sexual slavery. This biography of Solomon Northup gives us a vivid picture of slavery and how people had to suffer due to it.
“I could not comprehend the justice of that law, or that religion, which upholds or recognizes the principle of slavery.”
2) Do people become more religious in times of crisis?
I recently read in a book that faith increased by a significant margin during the COVID pandemic. In this book, Northup also shows us how faith increases during a crisis situation we face in life.
“At such times, the heart of man turns instinctively towards his Maker. In prosperity, and whenever there is nothing to injure or make him afraid, he remembers Him not, and is ready to defy Him; but place him in the midst of dangers, cut him off from human aid, let the grave open before him, then it is, in the time of his tribulation, that the scoffer and unbelieving man turns to God for help, feeling there is no other hope, or refuge, or safety, save in his protecting arm."
3) What are all the hardships that the people had to suffer due to slavery?
Northup describes about the abuse, hardships, and fear he had to tolerate during his arduous life in Louisiana.
“Oh! how heavily the weight of slavery pressed upon me then. I must toil day after day, endure abuse and taunts and scoffs, sleep on the hard ground, live on the coarsest fare, and not only this, but live the slave of a blood-seeking wretch, of whom I must stand henceforth in continued fear and dread."
My favourite three lines from this book
“Life is dear to every living thing; the worm that crawls upon the ground will struggle for it.”
"Let them know the heart of the poor slave—learn his secret thoughts—thoughts he dare not utter in the hearing of the white man; let them sit by him in the silent watches of the night—converse with him in trustful confidence, of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," and they will find that ninety-nine out of every hundred are intelligent enough to understand their situation, and to cherish in their bosoms the love of freedom, as passionately as themselves."
“Really, it was difficult to determine which I had most reason to fear—dogs, alligators or men!”
What could have been better?
This is not an easy book to read. The writing style, the language, and the harrowing experiences mentioned in this book by the author will make the reading experience difficult for some people.
Rating
5/5 This is one of the best memoirs you can read, which discusses the topic of slavery.
—————————————————————————
You can also follow me on
Instagram ID - Dasfill | YouTube Channel ID - Dasfill | YouTube Health Channel ID - Dasfill - Health | YouTube Malayalam Channel ID - Dasfill - Malayalam | Twitter ID - Dasfill1 | Snapchat ID - Dasfill | Facebook ID - Dasfill | TikTok ID - Dasfill1
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Reading Progress
July 16, 2019
– Shelved
August 14, 2022
–
Started Reading
September 28, 2022
–
Finished Reading
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Sep 28, 2022 08:07AM
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Thank you so much for your kind words :)
Thank you so much for your kind words :)
Thank you so much for your kind words :)
Thank you so much for your kind words :)
Thank you so much for your kind words :)
Thank you so much for your kind words :) Happy reading.
Thank you :)
Thank you :)