Thirty Years A Slave
Louis Hughes
Read by James K. White
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) (4 hr 54 min)
Chapters
| Preface & Chapter I (part 1) | 38:40 | Read by James K. White |
| Chapter I (part 2) | 38:28 | Read by James K. White |
| Chapter II (part 1) | 41:58 | Read by James K. White |
| Chapter II (part 2) | 33:42 | Read by James K. White |
| Chapter III (part 1) | 37:55 | Read by James K. White |
| Chapter III (part 2) | 32:56 | Read by James K. White |
| Chapter IV (part 1) | 24:51 | Read by James K. White |
| Chapter IV (part 2) | 17:41 | Read by James K. White |
| Chapter V | 28:11 | Read by James K. White |
Reviews
a history lesson, not a story
jaded_grl
extreamly well read! this account of a slaves life is written like a history lesson, not so much as a story following his exact life. he tells of how farms were arranged, duties of a slave, how the war changed things & effected their daily lives. but only on occasion does he give specific incidences in a writting form like telling a story. but the reader did a fantastic job of keeping it interesting & not dreary monotond history. a very interesting true life account, not as all consuming or engrossing as Uncle Toms Cabin - but they are written for different causes, this one is more educational.
A LibriVox Listener
A great reading of an important book. The first chapter is incredible and terrifying. This text should be taught in schools, it's direct language and expressive yet restrained voice is illuminating. Hughes does a terrific job of sharing his experience and Mr.White's reading here is superb.
mrs
Jo
I really enjoyed this and the reader is superb. His accent, presentation and pace were perfect throughout. I had some difficulty getting the chapters in the right order sometimes, so dome technical difficulties. Thoroughly enjoyed this book .
Perfect!
Kathi
I'm not a native speaker and i would say my englisch is not that good, but i could follow the story very easy! Thanks to the reader of this very good book!
A must read or listen
Emmett Hunter
Every African American in the country should read or should I say listen to this book.
An Amazing Slave Narrative
T .R.
30 Years A Slave is a historical gem. Louis Hughes tells his story with remarkable clarity. Even if one is not Iterested in using this book for citations and it's historical value, it remains a wonderful story of struggle, hardship and blessings. His personal description of slave-life, escape attempts, the effects of war and life as a free man are entertaining for anyone willing to listen.
Excellent story and narration
Aj Morris
Very moving story. I'm glad I came across it. Worth listening to every second. Thank you Louis Hughes for sharing your story. Reader was excellent! I can't enjoy another audio book now because I want them all to be read by him.
Great reader great book
A LibriVox Listener
Truly one can give credit to this book as both being a well written true story and a concise recollection of history told by the words of one who witnessed it first hand