Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom

* Selected as One of the Best Books of the 21st Century by The New York Times * Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in History *

“Extraordinary…a great American biography” (The New Yorker) of the most important African American of the 19th century: Frederick Douglass, the escaped slave who became the greatest orator of his day and one of the leading abolitionists and writers of the era.

As a young man Frederick Douglass (1818–1895) escaped from slavery in Baltimore, Maryland. He was fortunate to learn to read from his slave owner mistress. He later became one of the major literary figures of his time. His very existence disproved the claims of slave owners. With dignity, he bore witness to the brutality of slavery. His great intelligence further emphasized this brutality.

Initially mentored by William Lloyd Garrison, Douglass spoke widely, using his own story to condemn slavery. By the Civil War, Douglass had become the most famed and widely travelled orator in the nation. In his unique and eloquent voice, Douglass criticized the United States fiercely. He was also a radical patriot. After the war, he sometimes had political arguments with younger African Americans. However, he never forsook the Republican party or abandoned the cause of black civil and political rights.

In this “cinematic and deeply engaging” (The New York Times Book Review) biography, David Blight has utilized new information from a private collection. Few other historians have consulted this collection. He also drew on recently discovered issues of Douglass’s newspapers. “Absorbing and even moving…a brilliant book that speaks to our own time. It also speaks to Douglass’s era” (The Wall Street Journal). Blight’s biography tells the fascinating story of Douglass’s two marriages. It also explores his complex extended family. “David Blight has written the definitive biography of Frederick Douglass. It is a powerful portrait of one of the most important American voices of the nineteenth century” (The Boston Globe).

In addition to the Pulitzer Prize, Frederick Douglass won several prestigious awards. These include the Bancroft, Parkman, and Los Angeles Times (biography) awards. He also received the Lincoln, Plutarch, and Christopher awards. The book was named one of the Best Books of 2018. It was recognized by The New York Times Book Review, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, The San Francisco Chronicle, and Time.