Originally published in 1897, “Thirty Years a Slave” is a first person account of life as a slave written by Louis Hughes (1832–1913), an American-born slave belonging to a plantation owner in Charlottesville, Virginia. Having learned to read and write in secret, Hughes wrote this memoir and later became a successful businessman. “Thirty Years a Slave” offers a glimpse into the harrowing life of American slaves in the nineteenth century and is highly recommended for those wishing to learn about this dark chapter of American history. Contents include: “Life on a Cotton Plantation”, “Social and Other Aspects of Slavery”, “Slavery and the War of the Rebellion”, “Rebellion Weakening, Slaves'' Hopes Strengthening”, and “Freedom after Slavery”. Read & Co. History is republishing this classic autobiography now in a new addition complete with an introductory chapter by Frederick Douglass.