Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom - David W. Blight Audiobook

Written by David W. Blight
Read by Prentice Onayemi
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 64 Kbps

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Awards: 10 Best Books of 2018, Notable Books for Adults, Pulitzer Prize
Release date: October 16, 2018
Duration: 36:57:16

**Winner of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in History**

“Extraordinary…a great American biography” (The New Yorker) of the most important African-American of the nineteenth century: Frederick Douglass, the escaped slave who became the greatest orator of his day and one of the leading abolitionists and writers of the era.

As a young man Frederick Douglass (1818–1895) escaped from slavery in Baltimore, Maryland. He was fortunate to have been taught to read by his slave owner mistress, and he would go on to become one of the major literary figures of his time. His very existence gave the lie to slave owners: with dignity and great intelligence he bore witness to the brutality of slavery.

Initially mentored by William Lloyd Garrison, Douglass spoke widely, using his own story to condemn slavery. By the Civil War, Douglass had become the most famed and widely travelled orator in the nation. In his unique and eloquent voice, written and spoken, Douglass was a fierce critic of the United States as well as a radical patriot. After the war he sometimes argued politically with younger African Americans, but he never forsook either the Republican party or the cause of black civil and political rights.

Reviews - In this “cinematic and deeply engaging” (The New York Times Book Review) biography, David Blight has drawn on new information held in a private collection that few other historian have consulted, as well as recently discovered issues of Douglass’s newspapers. “Absorbing and even moving…a brilliant book that speaks to our own time as well as Douglass’s” (The Wall Street Journal), Blight’s biography tells the fascinating story of Douglass’s two marriages and his complex extended family. “David Blight has written the definitive biography of Frederick Douglass…a powerful portrait of one of the most important American voices of the nineteenth century” (The Boston Globe).

This is a listen for anyone wanting to learn about one of America’s most significant historical figures. Blight’s biography was one of the best reviewed books of 2018. Prentice Onayemi’s narration reveals why. Reading in a mostly measured, calm, almost soothing tone, he captivates, enthralls, engages, and, at times, enrages. But when needed, Onayemi evokes the drama and emotion of the turbulent times in which Douglass lived. He traveled tirelessly in the cause of righteousness and never lost sight of the potential of the American ideal. Onayemi’s narration captures the essence of Douglass’s life and message–and leaves one wondering what Douglass would make of our nation today. J.P.S. � AudioFile 2018