
audiobook
CLOTELLE; OR, THE COLORED HEROINE. - A TALE OF THE SOUTHERN STATES.
By William Wells Brown
CLOTELLE
CHAPTER I. THE SOUTHERN SOCIAL CIRCLE
CHAPTER II. THE NEGRO SALE
CHAPTER III. THE SLAVE-SPECULATOR
CHAPTER IV. THE BOAT-RACE
CHAPTER V. THE YOUNG MOTHER
CHAPTER VI. THE SLAVE-MARKET.
CHAPTER VII. THE SLAVE-HOLDING PARSON
The opening paints a vivid portrait of a Southern world where beauty, race, and power intersect in unsettling ways. Through the eyes of the enslaved women who navigate the lavish yet oppressive social circles of Richmond, the narrative reveals the constant tension between the glittering façade of genteel life and the brutal reality of bondage. Among them, a striking mulatto named Agnes boasts of a connection to a senator, embodying the desperate yearning for status and recognition that many share.
Into this charged atmosphere steps Clotelle, a young woman of mixed heritage whose quiet strength soon draws the attention of both the privileged and the oppressed. As she moves through the intricate web of family secrets, slave markets, and moral compromises, her story promises both heart‑wrenching choices and moments of unexpected courage. Listeners will be drawn into a richly detailed saga that examines love, loyalty, and the quest for freedom in a society built on injustice.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (259K characters)
Release date
2008-07-02
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

d. 1884
Born into slavery and later becoming a leading abolitionist, this groundbreaking writer helped open new paths in American literature. He is especially remembered for Clotel, widely recognized as the first novel published by an African American.
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