This is a far-ranging study which contextualises both the historical figure of Harriet Jacobs and her autobiography as a created work of art.

This eBook edition of "Harriet Jacobs: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" has been formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices. "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" is an autobiography by a young mother and fugitive slave Harriet Ann Jacobs. Jacobs contributed to the genre of slave narrative by using the techniques of sentimental novels "to address race and gender issues." She explores the struggles and sexual abuse that female slaves faced on plantations as well as their efforts to practice motherhood and protect their children when their children might be sold away. Harriet Ann Jacobs (1813 – 1897) was an African-American writer who escaped from slavery and was later freed. She became an abolitionist speaker and reformer.

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format. With help from CliffsNotes on Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, you explore the first book-length narrative by an ex-slave that reveals the unique brutalities inflicted on enslaved African women in the South. The chapter summaries and commentaries in this study guide expose you to a harrowing story of degradation and sexual exploitation; the struggle for freedom and self-definition; community and family; and writing as a means of freedom. Other features that help you study include An in-depth look at the life of the author, Harriet A. Jacobs Character analyses of major players A character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters Critical essays Glossaries of key words and terms A review section that tests your knowledge Classic literature or modern-day treasure—you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

"Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" was one of the several works written by Harriet Jacobs in her lifetime and was published in 1861. This work is a powerful and revealing autobiography in which Jacobs narrates her journey from slavery to freedom, offering an intimate and profound view of her life and the conditions faced by enslaved women in the United States. Over time, various biographies have been written and continue to be written about this iconic abolitionist and writer, with increasing quality and scope. However, to understand the thoughts and character of a real person, there is nothing better than hearing the story with all its circumstances, mistakes, and successes told by the one who lived it firsthand. This is the purpose of Harriet Jacobs's autobiography: to bring to the public the determined and visionary woman who, through her perseverance and courage, became one of the most influential voices in the fight against slavery and for the rights of African Americans. This work is part of the "Voices of America" collection, which aims to highlight the life stories of important figures in American history, told by themselves.

Gale Researcher Guide for: Sentimental Slavery and the Writings of Harriet Beecher Stowe is selected from Gale's academic platform Gale Researcher. These study guides provide peer-reviewed articles that allow students early success in finding scholarly materials and to gain the confidence and vocabulary needed to pursue deeper research.