Lewis Garrard Clarke (1815-1897) was born on his grandfather's plantation in Madison County, Kentucky. His mother, Letitia, was one of Samuel Campbell's children, and also his slave. When Clarke was approximately seven years old, he was given to Betsey, one of Campbell's married daughters. She and her children treated Clarke cruelly, and when he was 15 or 16 years old, he was sold to Mr. K., and later, his son. After enduring years of abuse, Clarke made a successful escape from Kentucky, reaching Ohio and later Canada. Later, he returned to Kentucky to aid his brother Cyrus in a risky escape. Cyrus's wife joined them shortly thereafter. They, along with Milton, another brother who had escaped before Lewis, remained in Ohio for a time, before settling in New York. Milton and Lewis gave frequent lectures about their experiences in slavery.

Lewis Clarke's narrative is based in large part upon the issues he discusses during his lectures. In this volume, he also includes a short history of his immediate family, answers to questions most often asked by those attending his lectures, and comments about slavery by John G. Whittier and Cassius M. Clay (Henry Clay's brother). Four parody poems by John G. Whittier conclude the work.

Monique Prince