Bücher von Linda Brent

Harriet Jacobs was born a slave in North Carolina, but, in her words, didn¿t realize it until her father died when she was six years old. Six years later, when her mistress died, she was bequeathed to the mistress¿ granddaughter, thereby coming into the household of the mistress¿ lecherous son. Several years later she escaped, only to have to hide for seven years in a cramped garret that did not allow her to stand or sit up. She was finally able to make her way north, where she was reunited with her children. Many years later, after narrowly avoiding capture multiple times due to the Fugitive Slave Law, her employer purchased her freedom.Jacobs, writing as Linda Brent, tells the riveting story of her life in the South as a slave. She brings an unflinching eye to ¿good¿ masters and mistresses who nevertheless lie to, steal from, and continually break promises to their slaves, and to bad masters who beat and kill their slaves for no particular reason. Even in the North, after her escape, she is disappointed to find prejudice and degrading treatment for blacks. After having been convinced to write down her story, it took years to find a publisher who would print it. It was finally made available to the public just a few months before the shots at Fort Sumter that began the Civil War.

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is an autobiography composed by Harriet Jacobs. Her story is excruciating, and she would prefer to have kept it hidden, however, she feels that unveiling it might help the antislavery movement. The preface by abolitionist Lydia Maria Child expresses that the events it records are valid. Linda hides in the attic crawl space of her grandma, Auntie Martha. She hopes Dr. Flint will sell her kids rather than risk having them disappear as well. The more she remains in her minuscule garret, the more physically debilitated she becomes.After spending seven years in the attic, Linda finally escapes toward the North by boat. She looks for employment as a nursemaid for a New York City family, the Bruces. The book closes with two testimonials to its precision, one from Amy Post and the other from George W. Lowther.

Reader be assured this narrative is no fiction. I am aware that some of my adventures may seem incredible; but they are, nevertheless, strictly true. I have not exaggerated the wrongs inflicted by Slavery; on the contrary, my descriptions fall far short of the facts. I have concealed the names of places, and given persons fictitious names. I had no motive for secrecy on my own account, but I deemed it kind and considerate towards others to pursue this course. "I wish I were more competent to the task I have undertaken. But I trust my readers will excuse deficiencies in consideration of circumstances. I was born and reared in Slavery; and I remained in a Slave State twenty-seven years."

First published in 1861, this book is one the the few accounts of southern slavery written by a woman, and has its origin in a series of letters written by Jacobs between 1853 and 1861.