
audiobook
In this vivid first‑person memoir, a former enslaved man recounts the brutal conditions of his birth in the American South and the daring night he slipped away from a life of chattel bondage. His narrative blends stark description with moments of quiet hope, painting a picture of resilience amid relentless oppression. The accompanying illustrations bring the scenes to life, making the early chapters both haunting and inspiring.
After gaining his freedom, he turned his experience into a powerful weapon against slavery, speaking before crowds in the North and later crossing the Atlantic to appeal to British conscience. The book includes heartfelt endorsements from American abolitionist leaders, underscoring his reputation as a courageous lecturer who risked capture at every turn. Listeners will feel the urgency of his mission as he seeks to unite trans‑Atlantic allies for immediate, unconditional emancipation.
Full title
Illustrated Edition of the Life and Escape of Wm. Wells Brown from American Slavery Written by Himself
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (131K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Widger from page images generously provided by the Internet Archive
Release date
2015-09-30
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

d. 1884
Born into slavery and later escaping to freedom, he became one of the 19th century’s most wide-ranging Black writers and abolitionist voices. His work crossed memoir, fiction, history, and drama, helping bring the realities of slavery to readers on both sides of the Atlantic.
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