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A Life in Chains

The Juneteenth Edition: Novels, Memoirs, Interviews, Testimonies, Studies, Official Records on Slavery and AbolitionismBy Mark Twain, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Lydia Maria Child, James Weldon Johnson, William Wells Brown, Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, Harriet E. Wilson, Charles W. Chesnutt, Harriet Jacobs

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Length335h 14m

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A Life in Chains presents a resonant anthology that captures the indomitable spirit and varied narratives emerging from America's complex history of slavery, emancipation, and identity formation. This collection seamlessly weaves together narratives, essays, and tales that explore the depths of human resilience and the abhorrent realities of bondage. From poignant reflections on personal sufferings to broader commentaries on societal injustice, each piece illuminates the multifaceted experiences of enslaved and free individuals. In amalgamating such diverse literary voices, the anthology traverses genres—from autobiography and fiction to polemical essays—offering works of great cultural and historical significance. Unified under a theme borne from both individual and collective anguish and triumph, the contributing authors are essential figures in the American literary and cultural landscape. The anthology draws on the poignant rhetoric of Frederick Douglass, the evocative storytelling of Harriet Beecher Stowe, and the astute observations of Charles W. Chesnutt, among others. It aligns with abolitionist and post-Reconstruction movements, underscoring the struggles and victories of those shaping the course of American history and literature. By presenting such a rich tapestry of voices, the collection lends invaluable insights into diverse viewpoints on American enslavement and liberty. For readers and scholars alike, A Life in Chains offers an unparalleled opportunity to delve into the multiplicity of perspectives chronicling America's struggle with slavery and its enduring legacy. It invites exploration and reflection and promises understanding and enlightenment on the perpetual dialogue about race, freedom, and human dignity. This anthology serves not only as an academic resource but as a catalyst for ongoing conversations, encouraging readers to grapple with its profound themes and engage critically with the past.

Audiobook details

GenreHistory, Literary Classics

Length335 hrs 14 mins

Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices

FormateBook with Audio

Publish dateNov 16, 2023

LanguageEnglish

1A Life in Chains

86The Underground Railroad (William Still) (pt. 2)

2Oroonoko; or, the Royal Slave (Aphra Behn) (pt. 1)

87The Underground Railroad (William Still) (pt. 3)

3Oroonoko; or, the Royal Slave (Aphra Behn) (pt. 2)

88The Underground Railroad (William Still) (pt. 4)

4Uncle Tom&#x27;s Cabin: A Novel (Harriet Beecher Stowe) (pt. 1)

89The Underground Railroad (William Still) (pt. 5)

5Uncle Tom&#x27;s Cabin: A Novel (Harriet Beecher Stowe) (pt. 2)

90The Underground Railroad (William Still) (pt. 6)

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6Uncle Tom&#x27;s Cabin: A Novel (Harriet Beecher Stowe) (pt. 3)

91The Underground Railroad (William Still) (pt. 7)

7Uncle Tom&#x27;s Cabin: A Novel (Harriet Beecher Stowe) (pt. 4)

92The Underground Railroad (William Still) (pt. 8)

8Uncle Tom&#x27;s Cabin: A Novel (Harriet Beecher Stowe) (pt. 5)

93The Underground Railroad (William Still) (pt. 9)

9Uncle Tom&#x27;s Cabin: A Novel (Harriet Beecher Stowe) (pt. 6)

94The Underground Railroad (William Still) (pt. 10)

10Uncle Tom&#x27;s Cabin: A Novel (Harriet Beecher Stowe) (pt. 7)

95The Underground Railroad (William Still) (pt. 11)

11Uncle Tom&#x27;s Cabin: A Novel (Harriet Beecher Stowe) (pt. 8)

96The Underground Railroad (William Still) (pt. 12)

12Uncle Tom&#x27;s Cabin: A Novel (Harriet Beecher Stowe) (pt. 9)

97The Underground Railroad (William Still) (pt. 13)

13Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Mark Twain) (pt. 1)

98The Underground Railroad (William Still) (pt. 14)

14Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Mark Twain) (pt. 2)

99The Underground Railroad (William Still) (pt. 15)

15Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Mark Twain) (pt. 3)

100The Underground Railroad (William Still) (pt. 16)

16Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Mark Twain) (pt. 4)

101The Underground Railroad (William Still) (pt. 17)

17Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Mark Twain) (pt. 5)

102The Underground Railroad (William Still) (pt. 18)

18The Heroic Slave (Frederick Douglass)

103Harriet: The Moses of Her People (Sarah H. Bradford) (pt. 1)

19Slavery&#x27;s Pleasant Homes (Lydia Maria Child) (pt. 1)

104Harriet: The Moses of Her People (Sarah H. Bradford) (pt. 2)

20Slavery&#x27;s Pleasant Homes (Lydia Maria Child) (pt. 2)

105Father Henson&#x27;s Story of His Own Life (Josiah Henson) (pt. 1)

21Our Nig; or, Sketches from the Life of a Free Black, in a Two-story White House (Harriet E. Wilson) (pt. 1)

106Father Henson&#x27;s Story of His Own Life (Josiah Henson) (pt. 2)

22Our Nig; or, Sketches from the Life of a Free Black, in a Two-story White House (Harriet E. Wilson) (pt. 2)

107Fifty Years in Chains; or, the Life of an American Slave (Charles Ball) (pt. 1)

23Clotelle; or, The Colored Heroine, a tale of the Southern States (William Wells Brown) (pt. 1)

108Fifty Years in Chains; or, the Life of an American Slave (Charles Ball) (pt. 2)

24Clotelle; or, The Colored Heroine, a tale of the Southern States (William Wells Brown) (pt. 2)

109Fifty Years in Chains; or, the Life of an American Slave (Charles Ball) (pt. 3)

25Clotelle; or, The Colored Heroine, a tale of the Southern States (William Wells Brown) (pt. 3)

110Fifty Years in Chains; or, the Life of an American Slave (Charles Ball) (pt. 4)

26The Marrow of Tradition (Charles W. Chesnutt) (pt. 1)

111Fifty Years in Chains; or, the Life of an American Slave (Charles Ball) (pt. 5)

27The Marrow of Tradition (Charles W. Chesnutt) (pt. 2)

112Twenty-Two Years a Slave and Forty Years a Freeman (Austin Steward) (pt. 1)

28The Marrow of Tradition (Charles W. Chesnutt) (pt. 3)

113Twenty-Two Years a Slave and Forty Years a Freeman (Austin Steward) (pt. 2)

29The Marrow of Tradition (Charles W. Chesnutt) (pt. 4)

114Twenty-Two Years a Slave and Forty Years a Freeman (Austin Steward) (pt. 3)

30The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man (James Weldon Johnson) (pt. 1)

115Twenty-Two Years a Slave and Forty Years a Freeman (Austin Steward) (pt. 4)

31The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man (James Weldon Johnson) (pt. 2)

116Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb, An American Slave, Written by Himself (Henry Bibb) (pt. 1)

32The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man (James Weldon Johnson) (pt. 3)

117Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb, An American Slave, Written by Himself (Henry Bibb) (pt. 2)

33A Fool&#x27;s Errand. By One of the Fools (Albion Winegar Tourgée) (pt. 1)

118Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb, An American Slave, Written by Himself (Henry Bibb) (pt. 3)

34A Fool&#x27;s Errand. By One of the Fools (Albion Winegar Tourgée) (pt. 2)

119The Narrative of William W. Brown, a Fugitive Slave (William Wells Brown)

35A Fool&#x27;s Errand. By One of the Fools (Albion Winegar Tourgée) (pt. 3)

120The Story of Mattie J. Jackson (L. S. Thompson)

36A Fool&#x27;s Errand. By One of the Fools (Albion Winegar Tourgée) (pt. 4)

121A Slave Girl&#x27;s Story (Kate Drumgoold)

37A Fool&#x27;s Errand. By One of the Fools (Albion Winegar Tourgée) (pt. 5)

122From the Darkness Cometh the Light, or Struggles for Freedom (Lucy A. Delaney)

38A Fool&#x27;s Errand. By One of the Fools (Albion Winegar Tourgée) (pt. 6)

123Narrative of the Life of Moses Grandy, a Slave in the United States of America (Moses Grandy)

39Bricks Without Straw: A Novel (Albion Winegar Tourgée) (pt. 1)

124Narrative of Joanna; An Emancipated Slave, of Surinam (John Gabriel Stedman)

40Bricks Without Straw: A Novel (Albion Winegar Tourgée) (pt. 2)

125Narrative of the Life of Henry Box Brown, Who Escaped in a 3x2 Feet Box, Written by Himself (Henry Box Brown)

41Bricks Without Straw: A Novel (Albion Winegar Tourgée) (pt. 3)

126Memoir and Poems of Phillis Wheatley (Margaretta Matilda Odell)

42Bricks Without Straw: A Novel (Albion Winegar Tourgée) (pt. 4)

127Buried Alive (Behind Prison Walls) For a Quarter of a Century. Life of William Walker (Thomas S. Gaines) (pt. 1)

43Bricks Without Straw: A Novel (Albion Winegar Tourgée) (pt. 5)

128Buried Alive (Behind Prison Walls) For a Quarter of a Century. Life of William Walker (Thomas S. Gaines) (pt. 2)

44Bricks Without Straw: A Novel (Albion Winegar Tourgée) (pt. 6)

129Buried Alive (Behind Prison Walls) For a Quarter of a Century. Life of William Walker (Thomas S. Gaines) (pt. 3)

45Bricks Without Straw: A Novel (Albion Winegar Tourgée) (pt. 7)

130Buried Alive (Behind Prison Walls) For a Quarter of a Century. Life of William Walker (Thomas S. Gaines) (pt. 4)

46Imperium in Imperio: A Study of the Negro Race Problem. A Novel (Sutton E. Griggs) (pt. 1)

131Sketches of the Life of Joseph Mountain, a Negro

47Imperium in Imperio: A Study of the Negro Race Problem. A Novel (Sutton E. Griggs) (pt. 2)

132Captain Canot; Or, Twenty Years of an African Slaver (Brantz Mayer and Theodore Canot) (pt. 1)

48Imperium in Imperio: A Study of the Negro Race Problem. A Novel (Sutton E. Griggs) (pt. 3)

133Captain Canot; Or, Twenty Years of an African Slaver (Brantz Mayer and Theodore Canot) (pt. 2)

49The Hindered Hand; or, The Reign of the Repressionist (Sutton E. Griggs) (pt. 1)

134Captain Canot; Or, Twenty Years of an African Slaver (Brantz Mayer and Theodore Canot) (pt. 3)

50The Hindered Hand; or, The Reign of the Repressionist (Sutton E. Griggs) (pt. 2)

135Captain Canot; Or, Twenty Years of an African Slaver (Brantz Mayer and Theodore Canot) (pt. 4)

51The Hindered Hand; or, The Reign of the Repressionist (Sutton E. Griggs) (pt. 3)

136Captain Canot; Or, Twenty Years of an African Slaver (Brantz Mayer and Theodore Canot) (pt. 5)

52The Hindered Hand; or, The Reign of the Repressionist (Sutton E. Griggs) (pt. 4)

137Captain Canot; Or, Twenty Years of an African Slaver (Brantz Mayer and Theodore Canot) (pt. 6)

53Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave (Frederick Douglass) (pt. 1)

138Captain Canot; Or, Twenty Years of an African Slaver (Brantz Mayer and Theodore Canot) (pt. 7)

54Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave (Frederick Douglass) (pt. 2)

139Pearl Incident: Personal Memoir of Daniel Drayton, the Captain (Daniel Drayton) (pt. 1)

5512 Years a Slave (Solomon Northup) (pt. 1)

140Pearl Incident: Personal Memoir of Daniel Drayton, the Captain (Daniel Drayton) (pt. 2)

5612 Years a Slave (Solomon Northup) (pt. 2)

141The History of the Rise, Progress and Accomplishment of the Abolition of African Slave-Trade (Thomas Clarkson) (pt. 1)

5712 Years a Slave (Solomon Northup) (pt. 3)

142The History of the Rise, Progress and Accomplishment of the Abolition of African Slave-Trade (Thomas Clarkson) (pt. 2)

5812 Years a Slave (Solomon Northup) (pt. 4)

143The History of the Rise, Progress and Accomplishment of the Abolition of African Slave-Trade (Thomas Clarkson) (pt. 3)

59The Willie Lynch Letter: The Making of Slave! (Willie Lynch)

144The History of the Rise, Progress and Accomplishment of the Abolition of African Slave-Trade (Thomas Clarkson) (pt. 4)

60The Confessions of Nat Turner (Nat Turner)

145The History of the Rise, Progress and Accomplishment of the Abolition of African Slave-Trade (Thomas Clarkson) (pt. 5)

61Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave (Sojourner Truth) (pt. 1)

146The History of the Rise, Progress and Accomplishment of the Abolition of African Slave-Trade (Thomas Clarkson) (pt. 6)

62Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave (Sojourner Truth) (pt. 2)

147The History of the Rise, Progress and Accomplishment of the Abolition of African Slave-Trade (Thomas Clarkson) (pt. 7)

63Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (Harriet Jacobs) (pt. 1)

148The History of the Rise, Progress and Accomplishment of the Abolition of African Slave-Trade (Thomas Clarkson) (pt. 8)

64Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (Harriet Jacobs) (pt. 2)

149The History of the Rise, Progress and Accomplishment of the Abolition of African Slave-Trade (Thomas Clarkson) (pt. 9)

65Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (Harriet Jacobs) (pt. 3)

150The History of the Rise, Progress and Accomplishment of the Abolition of African Slave-Trade (Thomas Clarkson) (pt. 10)

66Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (Harriet Jacobs) (pt. 4)

151The History of the Rise, Progress and Accomplishment of the Abolition of African Slave-Trade (Thomas Clarkson) (pt. 11)

67The History of Mary Prince (Mary Prince) (pt. 1)

152History of American Abolitionism from 1787 to 1861 (F. G. De Fontaine) Confederacy Propaganda (pt. 1)

68The History of Mary Prince (Mary Prince) (pt. 2)

153History of American Abolitionism from 1787 to 1861 (F. G. De Fontaine) Confederacy Propaganda (pt. 2)

69Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom (William and Ellen Craft) (pt. 1)

154Pictures of Slavery in Church and State (John Dixon Long) (pt. 1)

70Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom (William and Ellen Craft) (pt. 2)

155Pictures of Slavery in Church and State (John Dixon Long) (pt. 2)

71Thirty Years a Slave: From Bondage to Freedom (Louis Hughes) (pt. 1)

156Pictures of Slavery in Church and State (John Dixon Long) (pt. 3)

72Thirty Years a Slave: From Bondage to Freedom (Louis Hughes) (pt. 2)

157Pictures of Slavery in Church and State (John Dixon Long) (pt. 4)

73Narrative of the Life of J. D. Green, a Runaway Slave (Jacob D. Green)

158Life, Last Words and Dying Speech of Stephen Smith, a Black Man, Who Was Executed at Boston for Burglary

74Up From Slavery (Booker T. Washington) (pt. 1)

159Report of the Proceedings at the Examination of Charles G. Davis, Esq., on the Charge of Aiding and Abetting in the Rescue of a Fugitive Slave (pt. 1)

75Up From Slavery (Booker T. Washington) (pt. 2)

160Report of the Proceedings at the Examination of Charles G. Davis, Esq., on the Charge of Aiding and Abetting in the Rescue of a Fugitive Slave (pt. 2)

76Up From Slavery (Booker T. Washington) (pt. 3)

161Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All Its Phases (Ida B. Wells-Barnett)

77Up From Slavery (Booker T. Washington) (pt. 4)

162The Duty of Disobedience to the Fugitive Slave Act: An Appeal to the Legislators of Massachusetts (Lydia Maria Child)

78The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano (Olaudah Equiano) (pt. 1)

163Emancipation Proclamation (January 1, 1863)

79The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano (Olaudah Equiano) (pt. 2)

164Gettysburg Address

80The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano (Olaudah Equiano) (pt. 3)

165Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution (1865)

81The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano (Olaudah Equiano) (pt. 4)

166Civil Rights Act of 1866