The story of acquiring this volume is a long story full of sighs. But having read it, it seems silly to complain about anything so trivial.

Reading this book, I wanted to become a Quaker and go on nationwide speaking tours. I wanted to smack a lot of stupid, racist white people. I marveled at both the force of Frederick Douglass's personality and also all the factors that had to fall into place to make his legacy possible. I also marveled at the way he wrote his multiple autobiographies -- not as if posterity would have much interest in him as a person, but that posterity would want to know what this transitional time in history was like. As if 150 years later, it wouldn't be his name looming large, while most of the people he name-checks throughout are forgotten.

An excellent last book for Less Stupid Civil War Reading Group, as it probably goes the furthest into the post-war changes in society. ( )

This is an early edition of the autobiography of the great abolitionist. The language is typical for its day, and may seem a bit over-dramatic to the modern reader, but it is worth reading of this man's life in his own words.

The title page is almost as long as the book, and will serve as an outline of the contents:
Life and Times of Frederick Douglass (written by himself). His Early Life as a Slave, His Escape from Bondage, and his Complete History to the Present Time, Including his Connection with the Anti-Slavery Movement; His labors in Great Britain as well as in his own Country; His Experience in the Conduct of an Influential Newspaper; His Connections With the Underground Railroad; His Relations with John Brown and the Harper's Ferry Raid; His Recruiting the 54th and 55th Mass. {sic} Colored Regiments; His Interviews with Presidents Lincoln and Johnson; His Appointment by General Grant to Accompany the Santo Domingo Commission - Also to a Seat in the Council of the District of Columbia; His Appointment as United States Marshal by President Rutherford B. Hayes; also his Appointment to be Recorder of Deeds in Washington by President J.A. Garfield; with Many Other Interesting and Important events of his Most Eventful Life; with an Introduction by Mr. George Ruffin.

Auto-biograhical account of the end of slavery, by the courageous black leader who convinced Lincoln of the moral obligation to free the slaves. Without him, we might still be a slave-holding nation! A great American! A great book! ( )