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Twelve Years a Slave – Enhanced Edition by Dr. Sue Eakin Based on a Lifetime Project. New Info, Images, Maps Kindle Edition

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 946 ratings

NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY BESTSELLER
ACADEMY AWARD WINNER FOR BEST PICTURE
GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER
SYNCS TO AUDIBLE AUDIOBOOK BY LOUIS GOSSETT

"I wish to thank this amazing historian, Sue Eakin, who gave her life's work to preserving Solomon's story"
-- Steve McQueen, 2014 Academy Awards acceptance speech for Best Picture

In this enhanced/authenticated edition by Dr. Sue Eakin of the riveting true slave narrative that reads like a novel, you are transported to 1840’s New York, Washington, D.C., and Louisiana to experience the kidnapping and twelve years of bondage of Solomon Northup, a free man of color. TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE, published in 1853, was an immediate bombshell in the national debate over slavery leading up to the Civil War. It validated Harriett Beecher Stowe’s fictional account of Southern slavery in Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which significantly changed public opinion in favor of abolition. Now a major motion picture by Director Steve McQueen (produced by Brad Pitt), you can sync this e-book with our Movie Tie-in Audiobook performed by Oscar and Emmy winner Louis Gossett, Jr.

Northup’s harrowing true story was authenticated from decades of research by award-winning historian and journalist Dr. Sue Eakin, who rediscovered the narrative in 1931 as an adolescent and made it her life’s work. Dr. Eakin’s enhanced e-book includes the original narrative plus over 100 pages of fascinating new background information based on her research and photos. A portion of proceeds from this book supports organizations fighting modern-day slavery in the form of human trafficking. To enhance your book and movie experience see our website listed in the e-book’s sample pages and download a free PDF Collector’s Extra for your library.

SYNOPSIS: Hard working Solomon Northup, an educated free man of color in 1841, enjoys family life with his wife and three children in Saratoga, New York. He delights his community with his fiddle playing and has positive expectations of all he meets. When he is deceived by “circus promoters” to accompany them to a musical gig in the nation’s capital, his life takes an unimaginable turn. He awakens in shackles to find he has been drugged, kidnapped and bound for the slave block in D.C. After Solomon is shipped to New Orleans, he is assigned his slave name and quickly learns that the mere utterance of his true origin or rights as a freeman are certain to bring severe punishment or death. While he endures the brutal life of a slave in Louisiana’s isolated Bayou Boeuf plantation country, he must learn how to play the system and plot his escape home.

For 12 years, his fine mind captures the reality of slavery in stunning detail, as we learn about the characters that populate plantation society and the intrigues of the bayou. When Solomon finally finds a sympathizing friend who risks his life to secret a letter to the North, a courageous rescue attempt ensues that could either compound Solomon’s suffering, or get him back to the arms of his family.

REVIEWS - Below is from the original 1853 reviews of the narrative:

“...the extraordinary narrative of Solomon Northup is the most remarkable book that was ever issued from the American press.” - Detroit Tribune

CONTEMPORARY COMMENTARY:
“I can never read his account of his days in slavery, of his independence of spirit, of his determination to be free… without believing that it would make a difference in today’s world if our contemporaries knew of such a man as Solomon Northup” - Dr. John Hope Franklin, past president of the American Historical Association, best-selling author, recipient of Presidential Medal of Freedom (nation’s highest civilian honor). Written to Dr. Sue Eakin.

©2013 Eakin Films & Publishing (P) 2013 Eakin Film

Editorial Reviews

Review

NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY BESTSELLERACADEMY AWARD WINNER FOR BEST PICTUREGOLDEN GLOBE WINNER FOR BEST DRAMA"I wish to thank this amazing historian, Sue Eakin, who gave her life's work to preserving Solomon's story" -- Steve McQueen's Academy Awards acceptance speech for Best Picture

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00EFDZ288
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Eakin Films & Publishing (January 15, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 15, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4966 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 138 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 946 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
946 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They appreciate the historical details and educational facts that provide valuable insights into slavery. The story is described as compelling, heartbreaking, and harrowing. Readers appreciate the vivid imagery and footnotes that enhance the reading experience. The book provides an eye-opening look into what life was like for slaves in the South in the 1800s. Overall, customers find the character development insightful and well-crafted.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

245 customers mention "Readability"199 positive46 negative

Customers find the book readable and well-told. They appreciate the compelling writing, understandable verbiage, and evenhanded treatment of whites and blacks. The footnotes expand upon the text and confirm many of the details.

"...The movie was great with its accuracy and superb acting, but the book has a bonus feature...." Read more

"...(1850s) was an adjustment but I quickly got used to it and was able to read with ease. I enjoyed this book more than I expected...." Read more

"...loaded with historical features, annotations, and pictures that add tremendous depth and context to an amazing story, and is easily the best version..." Read more

"...Its straightforward, honest, unpretentious style details the inhumanity and brutality of slavery -- not in the third person as most of us read in..." Read more

181 customers mention "Information quality"168 positive13 negative

Customers appreciate the book's informative content. They find it provides valuable insights into Solomon Northrup's life and experiences. The historical details are presented in a warm, reader-friendly manner. Readers appreciate the background information provided by the author.

"...I found it quite thought provoking in terms of how the things that happened 175 years ago continue to influence people and our culture and our..." Read more

"...For just a dollar the Eakin "enhanced version" is absolutely loaded with historical features, annotations, and pictures that add tremendous depth..." Read more

"...honest, unpretentious style details the inhumanity and brutality of slavery -- not in the third person as most of us read in history books, but in..." Read more

"...The annotations by historian Sue Eakin though rich in historical detail and other educational facts are rather distracting and do not allow for..." Read more

162 customers mention "Story quality"141 positive21 negative

Customers find the story compelling and heart-wrenching. They appreciate the straightforward narrative that makes the period seem real. The book provides detailed accounts of slavery's cruel aspects, providing a riveting look into the life of a free man.

"...offers up many years of research, insights and transcripts on the life of Soloman Northup both before and after he was returned to freedom...." Read more

"...This book was fascinating and grab s and holds the attention...." Read more

"...annotations, and pictures that add tremendous depth and context to an amazing story, and is easily the best version on Amazon...." Read more

"...strives to do justice to the book, the book is far more detailed and realistic...." Read more

19 customers mention "Detail"19 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the vivid details and imagery in the book. They find the maps, pictures, and illustrations helpful in gaining a comprehensive understanding of slavery before the Civil War. The author's experience is recorded in detail with specifics, making it realistic and depicting what it was like to be black.

"..." is absolutely loaded with historical features, annotations, and pictures that add tremendous depth and context to an amazing story, and is easily..." Read more

"...Admittedly the film on its own was good. The picture was excellent and the directing was spot on and worthy of the acclaim it received...." Read more

"...Most of us know the story, but the detail touched me deeply...." Read more

"Compelling book that vividly descriptions of the life of a slave in the South in the 1850's...." Read more

15 customers mention "Footnotes"15 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the footnotes in the book. They find the notes informative and insightful. The footnotes, references, photographs, and appendices provide additional context for the story.

"..."enhanced version" is absolutely loaded with historical features, annotations, and pictures that add tremendous depth and context to an amazing story..." Read more

"...I chose to get Eakin's annotated version, and I found the annotations to be well-researched, factual rather than opinionated..." Read more

"...half of the Kindle book, and the remainder consists of the notes, references, photographs and appendices compiled by Sue Eakin during her lifetime..." Read more

"...The footnotes were really helpful too...." Read more

12 customers mention "Look"9 positive3 negative

Customers find the book provides a good look into what was going on during slavery. They appreciate the rich detail and clear language.

"...Its straightforward, honest, unpretentious style details the inhumanity and brutality of slavery -- not in the third person as most of us read in..." Read more

"...In rich and stunning detail and incredibly clear language, Solomon Northrup tells the tale of his capture and forced enslavement for 12 years,..." Read more

"...It's not a pretty account of what happened to him and how he suffered, but his fiddle playing gave him his greatest comfort and he wrote that he..." Read more

"...Style is simple, verbiage is archaic but understandable . The subject matter, slavery, is well defined in this book, as are it's consequences...." Read more

10 customers mention "Character development"7 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book. They find it better than the movie, showing a diversity of human characters from honest to evil. The book highlights the best and worst of humanity, contrasting brutality with morality. Readers also appreciate the historical information on characters, locations, and acceptance of diversity in our midst.

"...how far our country has come in abolishing slavery and accepting diversity in our midst...." Read more

"...It shows the diversity of mans characteristics from being a man of honesty to one of pure evil...." Read more

"...It astounds me ...man's inhumanity to man. No wonder a war was fought over this problem! But it is factual...." Read more

"...the evils of slavery; it's brutality and inhumanity, countered with character and morality amid an inescapable tradition...." Read more

28 customers mention "Sadness"10 positive18 negative

Customers find the book gripping and emotional, describing it as a quick read that tears at their hearts. They say it conveys the hopelessness and frustration of the slaves. However, others find the narrative harsh and brutal, saying it's an uncomfortable read.

"Do to the language norms of when it was written, this book feels a little restrained and understated. But, that does not mean it isn’t powerful...." Read more

"...Fundamentally it's a well-written book because I think it conveys the hopelessness and frustration of the slave even better than the movie, and..." Read more

"...The horrifying violence and demeaning nature of slavery through the recorded words of the man who experienced it for twelve years strikes strongly..." Read more

"A page-turner to the end, yet often painful to read because of the cruelty of Solomon Northup's "owners," except for one...." Read more

Schools can't teach what this man endured as a slave.
4 out of 5 stars
Schools can't teach what this man endured as a slave.
I haven't read much in the way of personal true stories of slavery until this book. I learned so much and humans can be so cruel, greed hides a multitude of sins. I'm ashamed to say I learned so much with my life half over. May we never go back to allowing such cruelty and abuse to our fellow man, woman or child, regardless of what race, gender or religion they are. Good book !
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2014
    As most people know, your ancestry has a lot to do with who you are as a person. Teachings get passed down and experiences get shared. It all has an impact on your outlooks on life. Although we all have our own individuality as human beings, you can see how a historical background can affect how you walk through this life experience. It cannot be helped. This book is a very powerful look into the life of only one man, but he represents so many. Anyone who is of a color that is not black should read this. If you have a heart that doesn't understand the black experience fully as it has progressed in the world, especially where the abhorrent "owning of human beings" is concerned, you need to read this one (or at the very least, see the movie). You many say, it isn't only African Americans who have been slaves. Yes this is correct, but it doesn't diminish the importance of the knowledge and understanding that reading this book will offer. (Can you imagine being bought and sold and losing a child through a sale? A wife? A husband, a friend, a brother or sister? Wondering forever after what happened to that person you loved with all your heart?)
    The movie was great with its accuracy and superb acting, but the book has a bonus feature. The author offers up many years of research, insights and transcripts on the life of Soloman Northup both before and after he was returned to freedom. This was of great interest as it had an outside view of who he was as a person and speculations about his own personal frailties. His wife and children were followed a bit too. It would have been nice to see some real life interviews with them, but it was quite a ways in the past and most of the information was in public record, court transcripts, newspaper articles and genealogical offerings from descendants. This made for reading that was a little dry and repetitious (court documents) at times, but interesting nonetheless.
    The hard fact is, was and remains, that it is never OK to buy and sell human beings for any reason. There is no justification for it. This book is a tearful and 'grit your teeth' snapshot of American history at its most appalling. We as a people have truly made horrendous mistakes.
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2014
    Initially the writing style (1850s) was an adjustment but I quickly got used to it and was able to read with ease. I enjoyed this book more than I expected. I seldom go to movies but often read the books upon which they are based. This book was fascinating and grab s and holds the attention. I found it quite thought provoking in terms of how the things that happened 175 years ago continue to influence people and our culture and our nation today. I found the commentary and research part at the back of the book to be rather boring and not at all succinct. My attention lagged there.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2013
    If you were, like me, looking to read Twelve Years a Slave and were looking through the various Kindle versions of the book, stop right here -- you've found the version you want. For just a dollar the Eakin "enhanced version" is absolutely loaded with historical features, annotations, and pictures that add tremendous depth and context to an amazing story, and is easily the best version on Amazon.

    The Northup book itself is, of course, marvelous. As slave stories go, this one is, in my view, without peer. Northup's s captivating tale -- which has gained attention because of the movie that shares the book's title -- is told in exacting detail with an easy prose. He sets the stage masterfully, describing people and places before proceeding into the narrative. Unlike works of fiction, this book is so compelling because, by all accounts, it is true. There is no polemical axe to grind, as with Uncle Tom (a novel at one point wryly referenced by Northup). Here you see both the brutality of slavery and the moments of kindness by slaves and even some slave owners. Solomon tells the story with clarity and intelligence.

    Because Twelve Years a Slave is in the public domain, I initially searched for free copies elsewhere. Unfortunately, the free versions I found on other sites were pretty badly formatted, so spending a dollar for a polished version on Amazon proved worthwhile. That said, while most of the Amazon versions are while noticeably cleaner than the free site versions, nearly all of the Amazon entries are barebones versions with no extra material, and most of their introductions, such as they are, are done by novelists or movie producers. That's fine, but at the end of the day they're not historians.

    Sue Eakin is. As a scholar who devoted her life to Northup's story, she fills in the gaps in a way that is honest and easy to follow. She traces Northup's life before the book, brings outside contemporary sources into the picture, and, most interestingly, discusses the mystery behind Northup's life after the book. All of this is done via footnotes and appendices, meaning that they are there if you want them but don't interfere with the book proper. As if that's not enough, the e-book has a website full of great pictures of everything from Epps's house to the ship's manifest that has Northup's slave name on it.

    It's hard to go wrong with this edition, especially given that it is currently priced the same as the other, far more basic, editions on Amazon. Highly recommended.
    207 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Dorinne Hewitt
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on July 16, 2016
    Very good reading Tells what hardships and cruelity the colored PEOPLE endured.
  • Alexandre Lacerda
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great historical insight about slavery
    Reviewed in Brazil on May 18, 2015
    Shocking narrative about the slave's everyday life, with all its cruelty, unjutisce, sadness, and strength. Great story that is at the same time informative, compelling, and inspiring.
  • Tiziana
    5.0 out of 5 stars Letto in 2 giorni
    Reviewed in Italy on December 13, 2014
    Mi era piaciuto il film e per questo ho acquistato il libro che si è rivelato ancora più bello del film. Avvincente e molto ben scritto.
  • Helver
    4.0 out of 5 stars Très intéressant!
    Reviewed in France on March 31, 2014
    Un anglais classique et donc facile à lire, une histoire intéressante et surprenante....
    Un très bon livre, vraiment!
    Je recommande.
  • REINHARD PLATE
    5.0 out of 5 stars 12 years a slave
    Reviewed in Germany on March 7, 2014
    Ich habe den Film gesehen; das Buch ist eine wunderbare Ergänzung zum umfassenden Verständnis der Sklaverei in den Südstaaten der USA vor dem Bürgerkrieg.
    Und wenn man beim Film mitleidet und in Tränen ausbricht,so tut man das beim Lesen des Buches ebenso
    .Die authentische Sprache Salamon Northups hilft noch mehr sich in das Wohl und Wehe der unseligen Sklaverei hineinzuversetzen.

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