Reader, did you ever hate? I hope not. I never did but once; and I trust I never shall again. Somebody has called it "the atmosphere of hell"; and I believe it is so.

First published in 1861 under a pseudonym, this is the autobiography of Harriet Jacobs, a mother, fugitive and slave. The book outlines her life, the struggles she faced as a female slave as well as the hardship she endured to protect her children and the fear of them being sold. As well as a precious historical document, it is also a timeless exploration of issues of race, gender and the struggle for freedom.