Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (Masterplots II: African American Literature Series)
At a glance:
- Author: Harriet Jacobs
- First Published: 1861
- Type of Work: Autobiography/slave narrative
- Time of Work: 1818–1861
- Setting: North Carolina, Philadelphia, and New York City
- Principal Characters: Linda Brent, Aunt Martha, Ellen, William, Dr. Flint, Mrs. Flint, Mr. Sands, Mrs. Bruce (first), Mrs. Bruce (second)
- Genres: Nonfiction, Autobiography
- Subjects: Freedom, New York, North America or North Americans, Northeast, U.S., United States or Americans, Abolitionists, Escapes, Nineteenth century, Slavery or slaves, New York City, Prejudices or antipathies, North Carolina, Moral conditions, Sexual harassment, Grandparents or grandchildren, Philadelphia
- Locales: New York, NY, Philadelphia, PA, North Carolina
Form and Content
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl was long believed to be a fictional account of slavery. Through extensive research, however, scholars have documented its authenticity as an autobiography by Harriet Jacobs, and it is now considered one of the most important antebellum slave narratives. No doubt the author’s decision to use pseudonyms for herself and her characters and the “novelish” nature of the autobiography (with its plot, dialogue, and episodic chapters) led some literary critics and historians to question the historical authenticity of...
[The entire page is 2419 words long]
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