Thirty Years A Slave by Louis Hughes provides readers with a firsthand account of the brutality and horrors of slavery in the United States. Hughes recounts his experiences as a slave, detailing the physical and emotional abuse he endured, as well as the resilience and strength he exhibited in the face of unimaginable circumstances.

The book is a powerful and emotional read, shedding light on the dehumanizing effects of slavery and the enduring impact it had on the lives of those who were enslaved. Hughes's narrative is raw and honest, giving readers a glimpse into the harsh reality of life as a slave during the antebellum period.

Despite the harrowing nature of his story, Hughes's resilience and determination to survive shine through, making this a compelling and thought-provoking read. His reflections on freedom and the importance of education resonate with readers, reminding us of the enduring power of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Overall, Thirty Years A Slave is a must-read for anyone interested in learning more about the history of slavery in America and the lasting legacy it has left on society. Hughes's poignant storytelling and powerful message make this a book that will stay with readers long after they have finished the last page.

Book Description:
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 plus 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)