Born into the squalor and humiliation of slavery, Frederick Douglass seemed destined for a lifetime of misery. So how did he break the shackles and become a world-famous abolitionist, author and statesman?
In 'Frederick Douglass: A Biography', Charles W. Chesnutt recounts the remarkable life story of a man who left a permanent mark on the ongoing struggle for freedom and civil rights.
Writing in a pacy style that does justice to the near-unbelievable events, Chesnutt tells of Douglass's escape from slavery in Maryland and his perilous and fearless journey to become the leader of the abolitionist movement.
His brilliant oratory and leadership skills were a resounding counter-punch to slaveholders' and many others' arguments that enslaved people did not have the intellect to become American citizens.
Chesnutt goes on to tell how Douglass courted controversy by engaging with slave owners, saying: "I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong."
'Frederick Douglass: A Biography' will delight readers of 'The Underground Railroad' by Colson Whitehead and 'The Interesting Narrative' by Olaudah Equiano.
Charles Waddell Chesnutt (1858-1932) was an African-American writer, political essayist and lawyer. He was best known for novels and short stories that confronted and explored post-Civil War racial and social identity issues.
His best-known works include 'Frederick Douglass – A Biography', 'The House Behind the Cedars' and 'The Colonel’s Dream'.
He gained new fame during the US civil rights movement in the 20th century, with many of his books being republished.
In 2008, he was the subject of a commemorative stamp.