With gratitude to Renee Moore, the founder of Solomon Northup Day, who was a tireless resource for us. We also thank the photo archivists at the Alexandria and Baton Rouge campuses of Louisiana State University for their gracious assistance, and the family of Sue Eakin, Solomon Northup biographer extraordinaire.
For the Louisiana branch of the Fradin family—Diana Judith, Michael James, Shalom Amelia, and Dahlia Sol Richard
Text copyright © 2012 Judith Bloom Fradin and Dennis Brindell Fradin
Compilation copyright © 2012 National Geographic Society.
All rights reserved. Reproduction without written permission
from the publisher is strictly prohibited.
Dust jacket design by Eva Absher and David M. Seager
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Fradin, Judith Bloom.
Stolen into slavery : the true story of Solomon Northup, free black man / by
Judy and Dennis Fradin.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
eISBN: 978-1-4263-0987-8
1. Northup, Solomon, b. 1808. 2. Slaves–United States–Biography. 3. African Americans–Biography. 4. Plantation life—Louisiana—History–19th century. 5. Slavery—Louisiana—History–19th century. I. Fradin, Dennis B. II. Title.
E444.N87F73 2012
306.3′62092–dc23
[B]
2011024664
v3.1
Version: 2017-07-07
WE FRADINS HAVE WRITTEN DOZENS OF BOOKS together. Researching and writing about the life of Solomon Northup has been both fascinating and inspiring.
Following the Civil War, many slaves wrote about their experiences. Solomon Northup’s narrative, written prior to the Civil War, is particularly gripping. Having previously lived as a free man in New York State, his enslavement seemed all the more bitter. His desire to escape fueled his determination to survive. Solomon drew strength and solace from his music, which allowed him a temporary refuge from his seemingly endless years in Louisiana cane and cotton fields.
Soon after he returned to his wife and family, Northup published his autobiography, Twelve Years a Slave. That book was the source of much of the detail and all of the dialogue in Stolen Into Slavery. Solomon Northup’s memoir, co-authored with David Wilson, reflects not only Northup’s memory of his experiences but also his deepest feelings about them.
Of course, memory can be tricky. Therefore we verified the basic events of Solomon’s life in bills of sale and in court records. But it is Solomon’s interpretation of events that gives us a unique glimpse into that most “peculiar institution,” American slavery.
—Judith and Dennis Fradin
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 “Well, My Boy, How Do You Feel Now?”
CHAPTER 2 “I Wished for Wings”
CHAPTER 3 “I Will Learn You Your Name!”
CHAPTER 4 Life Is Dear to Every Living Thing
CHAPTER 6 “If I Ever Catch You With a Book”
CHAPTER 7 “I Am Here Now a Slave”
CHAPTER 8 “How Can I End My Days Here?”
CHAPTER 9 “Solomon Northup Is My Name!”
CHAPTER 10 “I Had Been Restored to Happiness and Liberty”
