Frederick Douglass's Curious Audiences: Ethos in the Age of the Consumable Subject Book

Considering the slave Frederick Douglass was never allowed to set foot in a school, the exact and proper prose in this incredible story demonstrates the depth of his self-education. He learned to read on the sly, having been (illegally) taught the alphabet by a kindly master's wife. Douglass's story includes more 'humane' masters as well as an incredibly cruel one. The drudgery of daily slave life and the horror of whippings come through vividly in this biography that starts in Maryland.

Douglass eventually escapes, and this part of the autobiography is written with literary flourish. He arrives penniless in New York State and works his way up. In Massachusetts, he joins the abolitionist cause. In Rochester, NY, he'd publish an abolitionist newspaper. His personal experiences with prejudice, even in the north, are very interesting; Douglass was a man of great inner power who stood his ground, when most black slaves were docile by habit, reinforced by the whip.

A large part of Douglass's story is his abolitionist efforts, his involvement in politics and his personal interactions with John Brown, Charles Sumner, William Lloyd Garrison, and, especially, Abraham Lincoln. Douglass was involved in early Republican Party politics and was also an early, leading advocate of women's suffrage. His fascinating life included forays to Canada and Europe, at first to stay ahead of escaped slave catchers.

This book is excellent, being a fascinating story that is well written. That it was penned by an entirely self-educated man adds to its reading pleasure. There are so many 'wow' moments herein. I strongly recommend Life and Times of Frederick Douglass.