Solomon Northup was a free man living in New York in the mid-1800s. However, in 1841, he was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the American South. He was forced to work on a plantation in Louisiana for 12 years, during which time he was subjected to harsh and inhumane treatment. Despite his desperate attempts to regain his freedom, Northup was unable to do so until 1853, when he was finally able to prove his true identity and obtain his release.
After regaining his freedom, Northup wrote a memoir about his experiences as a slave, entitled Twelve Years a Slave. The book was a national bestseller and helped to shed light on the brutality and injustices of the American slave system. It also served as a powerful testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit, as Northup was able to survive and eventually overcome the unimaginable horrors of slavery.
Twelve Years a Slave has since become a classic of American literature and has been widely studied and revered for its historical and cultural significance. It remains an important reminder of the atrocities of the past and serves as a testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit.
References:
https://docsouth.unc.edu/fpn/northup/summary.html
https://www.friendsjournal.org/reflections-12-years-slave/
