Although millions of African American women were held in bondage over the 250 years that slavery was legal in the United States, Harriet Jacobs (1813-97) is the only one known to have left papers testifying to her life. Her autobiography, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, holds a central place in the canon of American literature as the most important slave narrative by an African American woman. Born in Edenton, North Carolina, Jacobs escaped from her owner in her mid-twenties and hid in the cramped attic crawlspace of her grandmother's house for seven years before making her way north as a fugitive slave. In Rochester, New York, she became an active abolitionist, working with all of the major abolitionists, feminists, and literary figures of her day, including Frederick Douglass, Lydia Maria Child, Amy Post, William Lloyd Garrison, Susan B. Anthony, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Fanny Fern, William C. Nell, Charlotte Forten Grimke, and Nathan Parker Willis. Jean Fagan Yellin has devoted much of her professional life to illuminating the remarkable life of Harriet Jacobs. Over three decades of painstaking research, Yellin has discovered more than 900 primary source documents, approximately 300 of which are now collected in two volumes. These letters and papers written by, for, and about Jacobs and her activist brother and daughter provide for the thousands of readers of Incidents--from scholars to schoolchildren--access to the rich historical context of Jacobs's struggles against slavery, racism, and sexism beyond what she reveals in her pseudonymous narrative. Accompanied by a CD containing a searchable PDF file of the entire contents, this collection is a crucial launching point for future scholarship on Jacobs's life and times.

For the first time--the complete story of the life and times of the most important black woman writer of the 19th century.

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. Since I have been at the North, it has been necessary for me to work diligently for my own support, and the education of my children. This has not left me much leisure to make up for the loss of early opportunities to improve myself; and it has compelled me to write these pages at irregular intervals, whenever I could snatch an hour from household duties. When I first arrived in Philadelphia, Bishop Paine advised me to publish a sketch of my life, but I told him I was altogether incompetent to such an undertaking. Though I have improved my mind somewhat since that time, I still remain of the same opinion; but I trust my motives will excuse what might otherwise seem presumptuous. I have not written my experiences in order to attract attention to myself; on the contrary, it would have been more pleasant to me to have been silent about my own history. Neither do I care to excite sympathy for my own sufferings. But I do earnestly desire to arouse the women of the North to a realizing sense of the condition of two millions of women at the South, still in bondage, suffering what I suffered, and most of them far worse. I want to add my testimony to that of abler pens to convince the people of the Free States what Slavery really is. Only by experience can any one realize how deep, and dark, and foul is that pit of abominations. May the blessing of God rest on this imperfect effort in behalf of my persecuted people! Linda Brent (AKA Harriet Jacobs)

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

"Life of a Slave Girl" is an autobiographical novel written by Harriet Jacobs, chronicling her life as a slave and her eventual escape to freedom. Published in 1861, it is one of the first personal narratives written by a former female slave, offering a unique perspective on the brutal realities of slavery and the struggles faced by women in this oppressive system. The book begins with a detailed account of Harriet's childhood, growing up as a slave in North Carolina. She describes the happy moments of her early years, but also the constant fear and uncertainty that came with being owned by another person. Harriet reveals the harshness of her master, Dr. Flint, who relentlessly pursued her for sexual favors, leading her to seek refuge in a secret relationship with a white man. This relationship gives her two children, but also puts her in a vulnerable position as she feared that Dr. Flint would use them as leverage to control her. In a desperate attempt to escape the oppressive environment and protect her children, Harriet flees to the North and becomes a fugitive slave. She hides in a cramped attic for seven years, constantly fearing for her safety and the safety of her children. During this time, she struggles with poverty and discrimination, but also experiences the joy of being free and the hope of a better future. However, Harriet's story takes a dark turn when Dr. Flint catches up to her and attempts to bring her back into slavery. In a heart-wrenching decision, she is forced to send her children away to protect them, knowing that she may never see them again. Through her resilience and determination, Harriet eventually makes her way to the North, where she is reunited with her children and able to live as a free woman. Throughout the book, Harriet exposes the brutal and dehumanizing realities of slavery, particularly for women. She vividly describes the physical and sexual abuse she endured, as well as the emotional toll it took on her. She also sheds light on the ways in which female slaves were used and exploited by their masters, often being forced into sexual relationships and bearing children who were still considered property. In addition to her personal experiences, Harriet also speaks out against the institution of slavery as a whole. She reveals the hypocrisy of Christian slaveholders who justify their actions with religion and the irony of a country founded on the principles of freedom and equality still allowing the ownership and mistreatment of human beings. "Life of a Slave Girl" is not only a powerful memoir of one woman's journey to freedom, but also a powerful commentary on the horrors of slavery and the resilience of the human spirit. Harriet Jacobs' brave and honest account serves as a reminder of the injustices of the past and the ongoing fight for equality and social justice. It is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the complex and painful history of slavery in America.

John Jacobs' short slave narrative, "A True Tale of Slavery", published in London in 1861, adds a brother's perspective to Harriet Jacobs' autobiography. This book is the enlarged edition of the most significant and celebrated slave narrative that completes the Jacobs family saga.

"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...." "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" was one of the first books to address the struggle for freedom by female slaves; explore their struggles with sexual harassment and abuse; and their effort to protect their roles as women and mothers. After being overshadowed by the Civil War, the novel was rediscovered in the late 20th century and since then hasn't been out of print ever. It is one of the seminal books written on the theme of slavery from a woman's point of view and appreciated worldwide academically as well. Harriet Jacobs (1813–1897) was an African-American writer who was formerly a fugitive slave. To save her family and her own identity from being found out, she used the pseudonym of Linda Brent and wrote secretly during the night.