"Clotel; Or, The President's Daughter" by William Wells Brown is a 19th-century novel that shines a light on the dark realities of slavery, racism, and unfairness in America. The book centers around Clotel, who is the daughter of a slave and a slave owner, showing the hard lives of people with mixed backgrounds during this time. Brown's storytelling brings up the hypocrisy of a country that talks about freedom but allows slavery to continue. From the start, the novel presents the horrors of slavery and how it breaks the spirits of those who are enslaved. Brown talks about the history of slavery, pointing out how it corrupts morals and involves many in society. Showing the sale of Clotel and her family shows the heartbreak of being torn apart and the dehumanization of people treated as property. The auction scene puts the reader face-to-face with the cruelties of slavery that take away a person's self-respect and ability to make choices, which sets the scene for Clotel's journey through her roots and complicated relationships.
Clotel; Or, The President's Daughter
By William Wells Brown
Born into slavery but connected to power, a woman navigates a brutal world, fighting for freedom and family against all odds.
Summary
About the AuthorWilliam Wells Brown was an American abolitionist, novelist, playwright, and historian. Born into slavery near Mount Sterling, Kentucky, Brown escaped to Ohio in 1834 at the age of 19. He settled in Boston, Massachusetts, where he worked for abolitionist causes and became a prolific writer. While working for abolition, Brown also supported causes including: temperance, women's suffrage, pacifism, prison reform, and an anti-tobacco movement. His novel Clotel (1853), considered the first novel written by an African American, was published in London, England, where he resided at the time. It was later published in the United States.
William Wells Brown was an American abolitionist, novelist, playwright, and historian. Born into slavery near Mount Sterling, Kentucky, Brown escaped to Ohio in 1834 at the age of 19. He settled in Boston, Massachusetts, where he worked for abolitionist causes and became a prolific writer. While working for abolition, Brown also supported causes including: temperance, women's suffrage, pacifism, prison reform, and an anti-tobacco movement. His novel Clotel (1853), considered the first novel written by an African American, was published in London, England, where he resided at the time. It was later published in the United States.
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