The narrative of the life of hen ry box brown henry box brown richard newman provides a 25page introduction to a revised autobiography of henry box brown, a fugitive slave who in 1849 devised his own escape to. By henry box brown, richard newman, henry louis gates j. This is a very interesting historical account of a man who had himself mailed to freedom. Summary of narrative of the life of henry box brown, written by. Brown commemorated his harrowing twentysevenhour journey by assuming the middle name box and publishing this autobiographical account, which became a classic among slave narratives. The narrative of the life of henry box brown by henry box. Henry box brown was an american slave born in the year 1816. It is the most celebrated escape in the history of american slavery. Traumatic theology in the narrative of the life of henry.
Summary henry box brown was born a slave in 1816 in louisa county, virginia and lived there for thirtythree years. In september 1849, the narrative of henry box brown. Traumatic theology in the narrative of the life of henry box. In 1849, henry brown escaped from slavery by shipping himself in a crate from virginia to an antislavery office in philadelphia. Twentyseven hours and 350 miles later, brown stepped out of his box to begin a new life. Narrative of the life of henr y box brown, written by himself ebook written by henry box brown. African americans narrative of the life of hen ry box brown scholar s choice edition. In 1850, a moving panorama, henry box brown s mirror of slavery, opened in boston. Henry box brown was an enslaved man who shipped himself to freedom in a wooden box. Other articles where narrative of the life of henry box brown is discussed. Henry box brown and charles stearns, narrative of henry box brown. Also, henry made the revolutionary mark by escaping from his master by mailing himself to a free state.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read narrative of the life of henry box brown, written by himself. One of those, narrative of the life of hen ry box brown 1849, tells of the authors incredible escape packed in a shipping crate. Henry box brown, an africanamerican slave living in virginia in the early 1800s as the above quote shows, the institution of slavery was a cruel and wicked system that pushed many slaves to. His life as a slave was relatively better than the lives of other enslaved blacks. Narratives recorded by fugitive slaves in the antebellum south or former slaves after the civil war were promoted by abolitionists and sold at antislavery meetings. Traumatic theology in the narrative of the life of henry box brown, written by himself john ernest, the eberly family distinguished professor of american literature at west virginia university, is the author of resistance and reformation in nineteenthcentury africanamerican literature. Narrative of the life of henry box brown uva library virgo.
For a short time, brown became a noted abolitionist speaker in the northeast united states. Part 1 narrative of the life of henry box brown the lev. Narrative of the life of henry box brown by henry louis. Narrative of the life of henry box brown, written by himself 2nd ed. Creating original historical fiction 1 permission is granted to educators to reproduce this worksheet for classroom use excerpt from the narrative of henry box brown the following is an excerpt from chapter 6 and the whole of chapter 7 of the narrative of the life of. In september 1849, the narrative of henry box brown was published in boston by charles. Narrative of the life of henry box brown, written by. In narrative of the life of hen ry box brown, written by himself, brown not only tells the story of his famed escape, but also recounts his later life as a black man making his way through white american and british culture. In september 1849, the narrative of henry box brown was published in boston by charles stearns. Project muse narrative of the life of henry box brown.
Henry box brown again showed his creativity late in 1849 when he hired artists and others to. The narrative of the life of henry box brown, written by himself, published in 1851, was part of the slave narrative tradition that dominated african american literature from 1830 to the end of the slavery era. Narrative of the life of henry box brown by henry box brown overview after enduring more than 30 years of slavery, henry box brown achieved freedom by having himself nailed inside a packing crate and shipped from richmond to philadelphia. In narrative of the life of henry box brown, written by himself, brown not only tells the story of his famed escape, but also recounts his later life as a black man making his way through white american and british culture. Buy a cheap copy of narrative of the life of henry box. Henry box brown, narrative of the life of henry box brown, written by himself manchester, united kingdom. Pdf narrative of the life of henry box brown download.
Narrative of the life of hen ry box brown by brown, henry box, 1816publication date 2002 topics brown, henry box, 1816, fugitive slaves, african americans, slavery, african american abolitionists publisher new york. Henry brown was born a slave, sometime around 1815, in louisa county, virginia. After more than 30 years of slavery, henry box brown managed to have himself nailed inside a packing crate and shipped from richmond to philadelphia. As a free man, brown lectured across new england on the evils of slavery and participated in the publication of the narrative of henry box brown 1849. Narrative of the life of henry box brown, written by himself.
Henry brown had himself sealed in a threefootbytwofoot box and shipped from richmond. Narrative of the life of hen ry box brown, written by himself manchester. Resources narrative of the life of henry box brown. Early in may 1851 the first english edition of the narrative of the life of hen ry box brown was published in manchester. John ernest university of north carolina press, 2008 ps primary source a primary source is a work that is being studied, or that provides firsthand or direct evidence on a topic. Brown as to the real character of slavery, and the hypocrisy of those professors of religion who have any connection with its infernal proceedings. Henry brown had himself sealed in a threefootbytwofoot box and shipped from richmond, virginia, to philadelphia, a twentysevenhour journey to freedom. Summary of narrative of the life of henry box brown. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read narrative of the life of henry box brown.
One of those, narrative of the life of henry box brown 1849, tells of the authors incredible escape packed in a shipping crate. His narrative as told to charles stearns, was published in 1849 to raise funds so he could purchase freedom for his wife and children. In brown s book, narrative of the life of henry box brown, quotes slavery, in all its phases, is demoralizing to everyone concerned, none who may read the following narrative, can for a moment doubt. Summary of the life of henry box brown henry box brown was born in louisa county, virginia in 1815. Dover has republished this work, based upon the oxford university press edition in. Go search best sellers gift ideas new releases deals store coupons. In narrative of the life of henry box brown, written by himself, brown not only tells the story of his famed escape, but also recounts his later life as a black man making his way through.
Henry box brown s story of his life as a slave and his legendary escape to freedom is fascinating. Edition first english edition language english related resources text available online. Narrative of henry box brown, published in boston in 1849, and narrative of the life of henry box brown, written by himself, published in manchester, england, in 1851. The narrative was published in america, and an edition of 8,000 copies sold in about two months, such was the interest excited by the astounding revelations made by mr. Henry box brown, narrative of the life of hen ry box brown, written by himself manchester, united kingdom. Format book published manchester, printed by lee and glynn, 1851. In 1849, henry brown escaped from slavery by shipping himself in a threefootby twofoot wooden crate from virginia to an antislavery office in philadelphia. Narrative of the life of henry box brown by henry box brown.
This format is similar to other slave narratives of the period. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read narrative of the life of hen ry box brown. Henry box brown biography, life, interesting facts. Account of a virginian slaves daring escape from his plantation in a box and subsequent life as a free man.
That box as a middle name was adopted by brown in commemoration of the method by which he gained his freedom. Brown, henry narrative of henry box brown, who escaped from slavery, enclosed in a box 3 feet long and 2 wide boston. Brown also became a performer, often reciting the psalm he had sung when he first emerged from the box. This important memoir recounts his daring and successful bid for freedom. The narratives of henry box brown are two similarly titled works of nonfiction. Most important, he paints a revealing portrait of the reality of slavery, of the wife and children sold away from him, the. Narrative of the life of henry box brown by henry louis gates. This is his memoir, originally published in 1851 in england, as fresh and compelling today as it was 150 years ago. Following his separation, under slavery, from his wife and child, brown had himself sealed in a shipping crate and sent to philadelphia, where he was received by antislavery agents after which the story of his escape soon became famous. Narratives of henry box brown, the encyclopedia virginia. Narrative of the life of henry box brown, written by himself on jstor. Who escaped from slavery enclosed in a box three feet long and two wide and two and a half high boston. Narrative of the life of hen ry box brown after enduring more than 30 years of slavery, henry box brown achieved freedom by having himself nailed inside a packing crate and shipped from richmond to philadelphia. His first master was john barret, who eventually passed away and left his property to be split between four sons.
Narrative of the life of hen ry box brown by brown, henry box and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Narrative of the life of henry box brown 1851 by henry. A new profession in june 1851 brown s and smiths partnership ended after a bitter dispute involving money and smiths complaint that brown had made no effort to purchase his own family. Read download narrative of the life of henry box brown pdf. Other articles where narrative of the life of hen ry box brown is discussed. After enduring more than 30 years of slavery, henry box brown achieved freedom by having himself nailed inside a packing crate and shipped from richmond to philadelphia. Dec 01, 20 narrative of the life of henry box brown. Copy of a letter respecting henry box browns escape from slaverya verification of patrick henrys speech in virginia legislature, march, 1775, when he said. Initially published in 1851, browns extraordinary memoir recounts the harsh circumstances of his bondage as well as the details of his 350mile journey by railroad, steamboat, and horse cart inside a container three feet long and two feet wide. Narrative of the life of hen ry box brown, written by himself by henry box brown. Narrative of the life of henry box brown, written by himself by henry box brown. Narrative of the life of henry box brown, written by himself ebook written by henry box brown.
Narrative of the life of henry box brown robert langton. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read narrative of the life of henr y box brown, written by himself. Henry was 33 years of age when he made his escape to an abolitionist state of pennsylvania. Both books tell the story of henry brown, an enslaved man from louisa. The frontispiece recreates his dramatic emergence from the wooden box that nearly became his coffin. In my opinion unless the americans purge themselves of this stain, they will have to undergo very severe, if not protracted suffering. Summary the life of a slave in virginia and his escape to philadelphia. Narrative of the life of henry box brown dover thrift. Initially published in 1851, brown s extraordinary memoir recounts the harsh circumstances of his bondage as well as the details of his 350mile journey by railroad. In narrative of the life of henr y box brown, written by himself, brown not only tells the story of his famed escape, but also recounts his later life as a black man making his way through.
Narrative of the life of henry box brown 1851 by henry box. Narrative of the life of hen ry box brown ebook written by henry box brown. In narrative of the life of hen ry box brown, written by himself, brown not only tells the story of his famed escape, but also recounts his later life as a black man making his way through. In the 1849 narrative, brown s story is bookended by stearnss introduction and closing essay the latter titled cure for the evil of slavery. Narrative of the life of hen ry box brown description born luisa county, virginia after enduring the tragic separation from his wife and children, who were sold to a plantation owner in distant north carolina, henry brown became determined to escape slavery. Narrative of the life of henry box brown by henry box. He developed his published slave narrative into an antislavery stage show. Henry box browns narrative, as told to charles stearns, was published in 1849 to raise funds so brown could purchase freedom for his wife and children. Narrative of the life of henry box brown henry box brown.
The narratives of henry box brown encyclopedia virginia. Henry box brown was born in louisa county, virginia in 1815. Narrative of the life of hen ry box brown by henry box brown and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. In his autobiography, narrative of the life of henry box brown, written by himself, he describes his owner. Narrative of the life of henry box brown ebook written by henry box brown.
He had himself crated up and shipped from slavery to liberty. Cover of narrative of the life of henry box brown, written by himself. Summary of henry box browns narrative boxbrownblog. Brown, wilson, jacobs, delany, douglass, and harper up. Aug 22, 2019 henry box brown was an enslaved man who shipped himself to freedom in a wooden box. This extraordinary narrative paints an indelible portrait of life in slavery. Dover has republished this work, based upon the oxford university press edition in 2002. In 1849, henry brown escaped from slavery by shipping himself in a threefootbytwofoot wooden crate from virginia to an antislavery office in philadelphia. The book includes a frontispiece portrait of brown, probably engraved from a daguerreotype, and an engraving of the box, as well as an excerpt of a speech about brown. Narrative of the life of henry box brown work by brown. He had himself sealed in a small wooden box and shipped to friends in philadelphia.