Thirty Years A Slave

Written by:
Louis Hughes
Narrated by:
James K. White

Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
643
Narrator
203
Release Date
January 2017
Duration
4 hours 55 minutes
Summary
Louis Hughes was born a slave near Charlottesville, Virginia to a white father and a black slave woman. Throughout his life he worked mostly as a house servant, but was privy to the intimate details and workings of the entire McGee cotton plantation and empire.

In Thirty Years A Slave Hughes provides vivid descriptions and explicit accounts of how the McGee plantation in Mississippi, and the McGee mansion in Tennessee functioned--accounts of the lives of the many slaves that lived, suffered and sometimes died under the cruel and unusual punishments meted out by Boss and his monstrously unstable and vindictive wife. He described the profane manner in which this peculiar institution dehumanized, on a daily basis, not only the black man but even more so the white man.

Ultimately, Thirty Years A Slave is an expression of Hughes’s desire to accurately describe the nature of the influence that the institution of slavery had on this country during the two hundred years in which it existed here, and the influence it continues to have on the heart and soul of a post-Civil War, post-14th Amendment United States. (Introduction by James K. White)
Reviews
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Anonymous

I loved this book and the narrator. The historical nature of this book was educational and the story so personal and painful to hear.

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Merritt C

Such an excellent read! Real daily life of a slave and the struggles. You get a better understanding of the varied mindsets at the time. Highly recommend.

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Lupita L

I found this book to be both inspiring and heartbreaking. It's a quick listen, but very insightful. I definitely recommend it.

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Anonymous

This story's title says what it's about but it's so much more to really hear what tragedies and hardships that the enslaved had to endure. Hearing the tale told from someone who lived it telling it like it was not made for public acceptance by glazing over the unappealing aspects. I felt so awful learning about his poor children.

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Anonymous

Awesome book!

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Maria G.

Such an amazing book! The author really took me on a journey into his life. This book really came to life for me. The narrator was great as well. I highly recommend!!

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Reuven C.

Great book great narration

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Angelissa U.

Loved the movie, great book! Narration could improve but well done anyway.

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Anonymous

Very good!!

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Marcos M.

This is a great read.

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Aycan A

Humanity has failed, and I see no light. It is a good book and narration is excellent.

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Robert W

I thoroughly enjoy each of the chapters and caught myself wondering why the submissiveness of the slaves when they many times out numbered the slaveholder. But then I had to remember that if you beat and subjugate a person and nothing happens to stop that behavior you become docile and compliant. Great way to see into the minds of the slave even though it was very painful at times to listen to.

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Diane F

I just felt so awful for what he went through. The treatment of slaves is an embarrassment of American History! To treat people like that is so awful. He really explained every part of slavery.

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Stephanie C

Such kindness and strength in the face of such cruelty. What an amazing story!

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Miss Cazzy Bee

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this title. A real eye opener to the way many people were forced to live their lives. The narrator done a great job at reading this book and doing it justice.

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Anonymous

Perfect narration. i highly recommend it to those who want to learn English

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Claire I.

So interesting

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Anonymous

I enjoyed this book, kept me interested till the end.

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Jami R.

very interesting, great book

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Damien M.

Makes you see how easy we have it.

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Gina M

It is really eye-opening to listen to this book, that I think it is important to know. I really enjoyed the narrator and the book written with the clarity and goodness of heart of a zen master. Without hate. Just educational.

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Anonymous

Perhaps not the most pleasant read; however, very much worth it and necessary to paint a detailed picture of the conditions under slavery. The narrator did quite a good job as well (also capturing the accents). Highly recommended to all due to its important contents.

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cooldude990

nothing good.

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Anonymous

A really trustworthy version of the history of slavery not the Hollywood kind

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Ernesto 213

wow. I didn't know or even had a clue about this man. I heard 12 years a slave, but 30 years a slave is addiction to literature. I couldn't stop without looking up the places & information given.

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Lauri C.

Kinda slow but interesting

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Kathy W.

Every interesting.

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Lauren D.

Insightful, educational, powerful, moving, and easy to digest in our modern time. Every American should read

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Fogez1

Solid history for all ages

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kayla

I believe that this is a good story i could go on for hours listening to this even though its not really in my genre of story’s I truly believe it to be magnificent

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The Month

Really enjoyed listening and learning about the life experiences of Louis Hughes. The narration was much better than some of the free audiobooks available.

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Anonymous

The cruelty, lack of respect and pure selfishness is brought to life through the words of this memoir. A must listen for all to understand this tragic period in America.

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Philip H.

I found this book easy to listen to and very informative about daily life as a slave. Reading about slavery is different than hearing from the point of view of an actual house slave: their feelings, priorities, beliefs, and hopes from boyhood to a mature married man. A must read for anyone interested in that historic time.

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Kim B.

Very interesting and informative. I thank the forefathers for remembering this to all of us.

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Debchick

A thoughtful and heartfelt book. Well written. Loved the narration.

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Mohamed S.

Very nice application

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Anonymous

Good book! I love it

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James S.

found this book to be highly interesting. Generally know the history of slavery but the personal perspective that Louis Hughes provides brings the terrible nature of slavery to the forefront. James S.

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Anonymous

good book. good to reqd when you are free

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Anonymous

It was an excellent book written in the good ole days.

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David W.

This narrative was very informative.

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Anonymous

Wonderfully written, engaging retelling and heartbreaking at once. This is one I won’t forget.

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Victoria F.

True history as told by Mr. Hughes. Painful and heartbreaking to listen to the abuse but it must be heard- and told! So grateful this man was brave enough to document his story. Loved hearing his life post slavery and the reconnections that were made. RIP Sir!

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Ronda M.

needs to be listened too as painful a truth it may be. excellent narration

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Anonymous

This book was amazing and the narrators voice was also amazing which makes a huge difference when listening to an audiobook. The story was very personal and painful to hear at times. The author was truly an exceptional human being and follower of Christ

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C. M.

very interesting and I liked the narrator.

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Anonymous

Great story! Very realistic!!

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Anonymous

Great ,a good read.

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PapaWholeWheat

I enjoyed this book, and I think you should read it.

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Dena Knight

A great look at our terrible history. The narrator did a fabulous job.

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Karen M.

Very well-narrated. A candid and enlightening account of life as a slave to spoilt and privileged white plantation owners. Their behaviour betrays the fact that they didn't even consider their black slaves human beings. So shocking to hear, recounted in such a matter-of-fact way. So shocking to realise that it happened in such relatively recent times, and that so many people still think this way.

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Anonymous

What a profound story. Love hearing about the true history of this country and that this story had a happy ending.

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Dietmar B.

A must read!

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Anonymous

narrator is very soothing and calm and relaxed

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Anonymous

great story easy listen

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sean2baba42

This was an unexpected gem. Excellent narration and the time passed easily listening.

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Tiffany A.

Im not a audiobook person but I stumbled upon this audiobook and i have to say it's very interesting. I think at some point I cried while hearing the struggles that the slaves faced in order to be free . I love this audiobook and the narrator is awesome

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Catherine W.

Fascinating!

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Anonymous

Hard to listen to times of abuse. However , information and well written. Good narration. Glad I listened.

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Alan W.

Good story.

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James G.

Hughes's autobiographical account of his life in slavery and later in freedom is spellbinding, infuriating, and ultimately triumphant. The cruelties he endured are incomprehensible and that they were perpetrated by people professing to be Christians is wholly offensive. The dignity and perseverance that this man exhibited is truly inspirational. The book gives a remarkable account of the day to day lives of slaves, their masters, and the operations of antebellum society. Hughes explains how slaves were evaluated, bought, and sold. How cotton was planted, cultivated, and picked. What the tasks and duties were for slaves on the plantation. He also describes, in graphic detail, the methods of discipline on the plantation which were truly horrific. These memoirs provide detailed insights into the lives of the McGee family members who were his masters. He also depicts the changes wrought on the society by the Civil War, his five attempts to run away, and finally emancipation. I highly recommend the book, particularly to those interested in a greater understanding of antebellum life in the South.

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Anonymous

At the beginning I wasn’t sure as I had previously read Uncle Tom’s Cabin and thought that was amazing. However, this book and its honest narration of slavery grew on my fast. I enjoyed the book b

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Anonymous

Awesome awesome

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Anonymous

A very sad but interesting story and the narrator does a very good job of keeping you engaged.

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Anonymous

Loved this book. Very informative and interesting.

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Anonymous

The writing is impeccable, and easy to understand. The narrator was so clear, that it felt like he was reading his own biography. The story has described all the trials and tribulations this poor man and his family went through.

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Anonymous

I loved the audio book. I loved the book! The perspective that the author took was original and well relayed by the narrator. The cadence emphasized the almost mundane recollection of events from the story teller view. This is this because it is this perspective. Well narrated.

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Anonymous

Vivid. Chilling. Eye-opening.

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Anonymous

This was well read!

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Anonymous

I think that its a true novel ideas over

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Anonymous

This book is most enlightening.

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Anonymous

Interesting book

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Brittany M.

it was a really good book and I love the narrator he was so clear spoken.

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Freda J.

How do I delete this book?

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Anonymous

Excellent book!

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Anonymous

Heart wrenching story, read beautifully

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Anonymous

I enjoyed this book very much.

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Anonymous

I enjoyed listening the whole audio book while doing my daily walks. Yesterday, I started “The Idiot “ of Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and I love it! Thank You!

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Barbara M.

This is a very intelligent and interesting read. Well written and engaging. Gives a good perspective on how slaves viewed their “masters” as well as how much they desired to be free people. As well as the arrogant cruelty of slave owners. It inspires the reader to work toward eliminating all racism in the US.

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Anonymous

A great read and really got into from the Start. The narrator is excellent can't wait for my next read

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