Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave

Summary

Narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker, this is the most famous American slave narrative ever published and is a rhetorical masterpiece. Douglass self-consciously uses classical rhetorical figures such as hyperbole, personification, metaphor, and irony to show how the pervasive evilness of slavery infects the soul of all that are impacted by it, including himself, his fellow enslaved people and their so-called masters and mistresses albeit at different registers. A classic in the African American canon, Douglass’ Narrative testifies again and again to how enslaved people sustained their humanity and created a sense of community even under the most violent conditions.

Cover illustrated by: Laylie Frazier

Laylie is a digital illustrator from Houston, Texas. She combines texture, color, and pattern to create warm and expressive portraits. She often pulls inspiration from nature, utilizing abstract plant, mountain, and sun motifs in her backgrounds. She is currently illustrating middle grade and YA covers for publishing as well as working in advertising.