Solomon Northup was born in 1808 in Minerva, New York. The son of a freedman, Solomon worked on his family's farm in New York until he was kidnapped and enslaved at age thirty-three. He spent twelve years working as a slave on a plantation in Louisiana before his father's former owner came south with papers proving Northup was a free man.

With the assistance of writer David Wilson, Northup wrote Twelve Years a Slave: Narrative of Solomon Northup, a Citizen of New-York, Kidnapped in Washington City in 1841, and Rescued in 1853 (1853). In this slave narrative, Northup tells the story of his enslavement and eventual return to freedom. The narrative gives an overview of his ancestry and life in New York, and then recounts his kidnapping and journey from New York to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he was sold to a cotton plantation owner. Following his release from slavery, Northup returned to New York.

In addition to presenting the details of his personal story, Northup offers an insight into the complex relationship between masters and slaves. He describes the inhumane treatment slaves suffered at the hands of their owners. At the same time he credits the slaves he met for their resilience and ability to undermine their oppressors, even as they seemed to be outwardly submissive.

Harris Henderson