Solomon Northup author page

Solomon Northup biography

Solomon Northup was an African American author and musician, best known for his memoir Twelve Years a Slave. Born a free man in New York, Northup was kidnapped in Washington, D.C. in 1841 and sold into slavery in Louisiana. He spent twelve years enslaved on plantations in the South before regaining his freedom in 1853.

After his return to the North, Northup collaborated with David Wilson, a white lawyer and writer, to publish his account of his experiences. Twelve Years a Slave was published in 1853 by Derby & Miller. The book provides a detailed narrative of Northup’s life before, during, and after his enslavement, offering a first-hand account of the conditions faced by enslaved people in the United States. The memoir was used as an important document in the abolitionist movement and contributed to the national conversation about slavery in the years leading up to the American Civil War.

Northup also became active in the abolitionist movement, giving lectures about his experiences and advocating for the end of slavery. His memoir has been recognised as a significant historical document and is frequently studied in schools and universities.

Twelve Years a Slave was first published in 1853.