John Jacobs - Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Written by Herself

Pros: Fascinating testimony
Cons: Garbling of narrative voices can be distracting

In my American Romanticism class we’ve read several examples of slave narratives. While all of them provide a compelling witness of the evils of slavery, I found Harriet Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl particularly engaging because...

Pros: Vivid descriptions of atrocities of slavery
Cons: Rather depressing book

I will mention here that I am neither black nor particularly interested in African-American culture. None the less I remain interested in history, and slavery is an unfortunate aspect of the history of the United States. Of the historical reports of ...

Pros: See how slavery truly was especially for women.
Cons: You may feel disgusted or extremely embarrassed at how your ancestors acted if you're white.

I chose to read this book for a class assignment. When I checked it out from the library I basically thought I would be reading another review of slave history. I was in for a huge shock. From history class I had a very vague idea of slavery. I knew it...

Pros: Shows the real life of slaves not some sugar coated fantasy
Cons: not enough details

I bought this book for an American History class. When I dropped the class I picked up the book and something told me not to take it back ..... I am so glad I didn't. I read the first page and a few hours later I was done with the book. If you think...

Pros: Surprising underneath story you never knew existed in slave life
Cons: not enough detail in some areas

What compelled me to buy this book was that it was an assignment for a class that I am taking in college. I was first skeptical to reading it because I had sort of grown tired of the whole slavery story due to it being told to me every year in my all of...