The Project Gutenberg EBook of Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
by Harriet Jacobs (AKA Linda Brent)

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Title: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
Written by Herself

Author: Harriet Jacobs (AKA Linda Brent)

Release Date: February 11, 2004 [EBook #11030]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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[Transcriber's note: The spelling irregularities of the original have been
retained in this etext.]

Incidents

in the

Life of a Slave Girl.

Written by Herself.

Linda Brent

"Northerners know nothing at all about Slavery. They think it is perpetual
bondage only. They have no conception of the depth of _degradation_
involved in that word, SLAVERY; if they had, they would never cease their
efforts until so horrible a system was overthrown."

A Woman Of North Carolina.

"Rise up, ye women that are at ease! Hear my voice, ye careless daughters!
Give ear unto my speech."

Isaiah xxxii. 9.

Edited By L. Maria Child.

Boston: Published For The Author.

1861.

Preface By The Author

Reader be assured this narrative is no fiction. I am aware that some of my
adventures may seem incredible; but they are, nevertheless, strictly true.
I have not exaggerated the wrongs inflicted by Slavery; on the contrary, my
descriptions fall far short of the facts. I have concealed the names of
places, and given persons fictitious names. I had no motive for secrecy on
my own account, but I deemed it kind and considerate towards others to
pursue this course.

I wish I were more competent to the task I have undertaken. But I trust my
readers will excuse deficiencies in consideration of circumstances. I was
born and reared in Slavery; and I remained in a Slave State twenty-seven
years. Since I have been at the North, it has been necessary for me to work
diligently for my own support, and the education of my children. This has
not left me much leisure to make up for the loss of early opportunities to
improve myself; and it has compelled me to write these pages at irregular
interva