Twelve Years a Slave

By: Solomon Northup

Narrated by: Hugh Quarshie

Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Hugh Quarshie reads the extraordinary autobiography of Solomon Northup. His harrowing true story, first published in 1853, was a key factor in the national debate over slavery prior to the American Civil War, significantly changing public opinion on the topic of abolition. It tells the horrifying tale of Solomon Northup, an educated, free black man living with his wife and children in New York State, whose life takes an appalling turn when he is kidnapped, drugged and sold into slavery.

Shipped to New Orleans, he endures the life of a slave in Louisiana's isolated plantation country. For twelve long years, he endures the unimaginable brutality and inhumanity of daily life, while keeping his dignity intact and dreaming of one day returning home to the arms of his family.

Twelve Years a Slave is soon to be a major motion picture, starring Brad Pitt, Paul Giamatti, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Michael Fassbender.

©2013 AudioGO Ltd (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

• 10 Best Audiobooks of 2013 (Salon)

"The resurgent interest in '12 Years a Slave' has everything to do with Steve McQueen's masterful film adaptation, but the book has more to offer than the movie, and the Ghanian-British stage actor Hugh Quarshie's conversational delivery stands out among a slew of newly released competing audiobook adaptations." (Kyle Minor, Salon)

"A moving, vital testament to one of slavery s many thousands gone who retained his humanity in the bowels of degradation. It is also a chilling insight into the peculiar institution.” ( Saturday Review Online)

Incredibly Insightful

This is the very disturbing story of a free man who was subjected to incredible abuse. It is a book that gives great insight into the awful history of slavery in our country.

Fabulous!!!!!

I loved this book and want to see the movie. I am sorry for this time in our history. T
he narrator was fantastic!!!!!

So grateful for this history

An immense value to listen to Solomon Northup's history, and his accounting of the horrors of slavery. So grateful for his liberation, and his determination to tell the truth of his life. Very well-read by Hugh Quarshie.

Excellent reading of an absolute nightmare.

It's hard to say that i loved it because the subject matter is nothing to love but it is a captivating story of unimaginable pain and suffering that was one man's journey into and out of slavery. Solomon did an amazing job of turning his memories into a vivid picture of the hell he experienced for those 12years and the narrator is amazing at conveying every emotion like he was the one that lived through it.

An agonizing book that everyone needs to read

It is very well written, gripping, horrible, and necessary. I choked up several times. At the end you'll hear "Audible hopes you enjoyed this program." I wish they would say something different for books like this. I hated it, it will stay with me and haunt me, but sometimes we need to look at what we would rather ignore and forget.

Clear and Present Danger!

When one thinks of slavery it is limited to the images that one has seen in books or from one’s own images. Twelve Years a Slave is a primary source of very vivid condition, images, and t Turmoil

A harrowing but important story

A great listen to anyone who wants the unvarnished truth about the horrors of slavery. Hugh Quashie does a fantastic reading.

An Amazing Personal Account

An amazing personal account that provides insight into the sad necessity of our Civil War and confirmation that the hundreds of thousands of brave men and women who gave their lives for the the cause of freedom from slavery were true heroes. The book is a wonderful gift to humanity from Mr Northup, and the recording preserves an outstanding performance by Mr Quarshie. Thanks, Audible!

Truly Heartbreaking

We must read about our history or we are doomed to repeat it. This heartbreaking and true account of this man's journey is truly heavy, a fantastic book.

Mandatory Reading

Mandatory reading for everyone. The injustice of slavery is beyond disgusting and this book fully reveals the extent of torture black Americans experienced. Must read.