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The Life of Frederick Douglass: A Graphic Narrative of a Slave's Journey from Bondage to Freedom Paperback – January 8, 2019

by David F. Walker (Author), Damon Smyth (Illustrator), Marissa Louise (Illustrator)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 258 ratings
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A graphic novel biography of the escaped slave, abolitionist, public speaker, and most photographed man of the nineteenth century, based on his autobiographical writings and speeches, spotlighting the key events and people that shaped the life of this great American.

Recently returned to the cultural spotlight, Frederick Douglass's impact on American history is felt even in today's current events. Comic book writer and filmmaker David F. Walker joins with the art team of Damon Smyth and Marissa Louise to bring the long, exciting, and influential life of Douglass to life in comic book form. Taking you from Douglass's life as a young slave through his forbidden education to his escape and growing prominence as a speaker, abolitionist, and influential cultural figure during the Civil War and beyond, The Life of Frederick Douglass presents a complete illustrated portrait of the man who stood up and spoke out for freedom and equality. Along the way, special features provide additional background on the history of slavery in the United States, the development of photography (which would play a key role in the spread of Douglass's image and influence), and the Civil War. Told from Douglass's point of view and based on his own writings, The Life of Frederick Douglass provides an up-close-and-personal look at a history-making American who was larger than life.
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  1. Print length
    192 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Ten Speed Graphic
  4. Publication date
    January 8, 2019
  5. Dimensions
    7 x 0.6 x 10.01 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0399581448
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0399581441
  8. Lexile measure
    GN970L
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“This incredible graphic novel shines a much-needed spotlight on one of America's greatest heroes. The Life of Frederick Douglass deserves serious attention and David F. Walker is the perfect person to author this complex and compelling story.” —Brian Michael Bendis, author of Words for Pictures, writer of Superman, and co-creator of Jessica Jones 
 
“The Life of Frederick Douglass humanizes the national icon of the abolitionist movement and restores a reflective realness to the man whose life still teaches us the meaning of moral conviction, determination, and service. Douglass lived his life at the epicenter of a defining age in American history and through his voice and words we walk alongside him on his journey through the encounters, struggles, and triumphs that shaped this country. Douglass first emancipated his mind through literacy, then his physical self by escaping enslavement as a runaway, setting off a lifelong quest for freedom and opportunity for people of color. Walker’s narrative reads like a fireside chat with the grandfather of the abolitionist movement and illuminates dark corners of American history with the soulful reflection and truth-telling. This masterful story of emancipation draws from Frederick Douglass’ epic life to capture our national history through his personal narrative. This graphic narrative should be in every classroom in America! Douglass’ life story illuminates how great men, women, and indeed nations are born of moral struggle, perseverance, and progress.” —Deirdre Lynn Hollman, educator and founder of The Black Comics Collective
 
“A beautifully accessible and compelling graphic work that delves into the scathing truths that helped build our country. This is our collective story, as told through the eyes of one of the most important American citizens in the history of our nation. Walker, Smyth, and Louise expertly relate the unspeakable traumas of slavery while driving home the true meaning of the American Dream for future generations." —John Jennings, artist of Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, co-editor of Black Comix Returns and The Blacker the Ink 

About the Author

DAVID F. WALKER is an award-winning comic book writer, filmmaker, journalist, and educator. Walker is best known for his work in comics, including Shaft: A Complicated Man (Dynamite Entertainment), winner of the 2015 Glyph Award for Story of the Year, and its sequel, Shaft: Imitation of Life. His work for Marvel Comics includes Luke Cage, Occupy Avengers, Power Man and Iron Fist, Nighthawk, Fury, and Deadpool. He's also worked for DC Comics (Cyborg), Boom! (Planet of the Apes), and IDW/Monkeybrain (The Army of Dr. Moreau). He is the creator of the prose YA series The Adventures of Darius Logan, and author of the novel Shaft's Revenge, the first new novel starring the iconic black detective in more than forty years.

DAMON SMYTH is an illustrator and comic book artist. MARISSA LOUISE is an illustrator and colorist whose color work has appeared in comics and graphic novels from Dark Horse, Image Comics, and BOOM! Studios, among others.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ten Speed Graphic (January 8, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0399581448
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0399581441
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ GN970L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 0.6 x 10.01 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 258 ratings

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  1. David F. Walker

    David F. Walker

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    David F. Walker is an award-winning journalist, filmmaker comic book writer, and creator of pop culture 'zine BadAzz MoFo. He is the co-writer and co-creator of NAOMI (DC Comics) and the Eisner Award-winning BITTER ROOT (Image Comics). He is the author of the graphic novels THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY: A GRAPHIC NOVEL HISTORY and THE LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS (Ten Speed). His other comic book credits include POWER MAN & IRON FIST, NIGHTHAWK, and OCCUPY AVENGERS (Marvel), CYBORG (DC), SHAFT (DYNAMITE), PLANET OF THE APES (Boom), THE ARMY OF DR. MOREAU (IDW/Monkeybrain), and NUMBER 13 (Dark Horse Comics). He is the author of SHAFT'S REVENGE, the first new novel starring John Shaft in over 40 years.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Damon smith

    Damon smith

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    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
258 global ratings
Cover and book are not glued together (2nd book received this way)
1 Star
Cover and book are not glued together (2nd book received this way)
I have ordered the graphic novel of The Life of Frederick Douglass twice now. The first book arrived with the book contents and book cover separate. The glue did not hold the book into the cover. I requested a replacement book. I received the replacement and the book arrived in the same condition. Do not purchase this book!
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Top reviews from the United States

AmazonCustomer
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, simply amazing immersive novel
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2019
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Simply amazing story and details told in rich first person. I could feel the pain and the sorrow and the moments of joy as well as struggle along with Douglas. Great sidebars on the historical context if the time such as Lincoln's words to New York Tribune on his thoughts of a abolition. As I read some passages that wer especially profound aloud to my wife over holiday, she indicated that it sounds like the making of the next Hamilton musical. Lol. In fact, though, it us indeed reminiscent on how the author and artists captured the story and lives of those who surrounded Douglas during his mission, as well as his self doubts along the way. Douglas became human, and in that humanness I have the deepest new appreciation for not only what he did, but also how he lived. And for that I walk away from this book that I could not put down, ever the more inspired. Thanks, David Walker for taking on this years long mission and
2 people found this helpful
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Nella
5.0 out of 5 stars An Important and accessible read
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2019
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This is a really well done telling of Douglass' life. The pictures make this very accessible to a wider age group and language ability level. I'm working with other teachers in my building to make this part of our middle school language arts and social studies curriculum next year. Walker takes us through Douglass's personal history but also provides the context needed to better understand Douglass's circumstances. We get a glimpse into American history and it's people through Douglass's lens. I appreciate Walker's introduction explaining that he wanted to capture Douglass's humanity, not the deification of the hero. I feel like we get that humanity through his voice, and the illustrations provide depth to the character and subtlety to the storytelling. Well done on all fronts.
5 people found this helpful
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Michael A. Burstein
5.0 out of 5 stars A Vital Read For Anyone Interested in the United States of the 19th Century
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2019
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David F. Walker has written a vital book for anyone who wants to know more about Frederick Douglass.

I read the whole book in one night and plan to read it again and again. I knew the broad brushstrokes of Douglass's life but I was not familiar with the details. Walker narrates the book in Douglass's voice and it works extremely well. It feels as if Douglass himself is talking to the readers, telling us about the life he lived. The beginning of the book, in which we learn what it was like for a child to be born into slavery, was like a gut punch. Again, I knew some of this as dry fact, but the visual narrative brings to life some of the horrors so perfectly that it made me cry. (I had to set the book down for a while.) The dehumanization of slavery is presented for all to see. Learning the details of Douglass's early life made it even more impressive as I read about what he was able to make of his life later on.

This book is a vital book for anyone and everyone to read, especially if you live in the United States. Douglass's life is steeped in the history of the 19th century and this compelling book makes it extremely clear what the world was like and what needed to be accomplished by Douglass and others simply to end slavery. I highly, highly recommend this book.
7 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Book
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2019
Verified Purchase
As soon as I took this book out of the package I was pleasantly surprised by how it feels in my hands. The cover is thicker than usual for a paperback, and the pages feel nice beneath my fingertips. It's a really well constructed, and well written graphic novel. The colors are vibrant, the artwork dynamic, and the story is, of course, timeless. I can't wait to share this with my children.
5 people found this helpful
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Kristine Fisher
4.0 out of 5 stars The Life of Frederick Douglass
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2019
The Life of Frederick Douglass by David F. Walker et. al. is a free advance reader copy of a graphic novel offered to me by Ten Speed Press in exchange for an honest review.

The full span of Douglass' life plus insets (i.e. ‘brief history’) for photographs and history of the Civil War. There's a backdrop of sepia, deeply imbedded, crosshatchy shadows, and fierce narrowed and calculating eyes in the telling of his life with 20+ years under slavery (since Frederick isn't fully aware of his exact age), witnessing extreme acts of bodily violence, teaching other slaves to read and write, seeking his freedom, marrying his first wife, becomes a preacher and speaker within the anti-slavery movement in the US and the UK, returning to the U.S. to head a newspaper called the North Star, reuniting with his immediate family as US states gradually abolish slavery, and the death of his first wife, and he is so incredibly humble and earnest in his narration.
One person found this helpful
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Quin
5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Stars
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2021
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This was highly informative, which is only negative because it made the graphic novel so long. However, it was quite thorough, and uses Douglass's true words. Often, I come across only sparse chunks of information on him. This narrative tells you Douglass's perspective on everything and everybody having to do with emancipation and civil rights. The graphics were pleasant as well.
5 Stars.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars The genre helps to create an understandable and intimate portrait of Frederick Douglass
Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2021
Verified Purchase
I ordered this book after listening to an interview with the author on NPR. Although graphic novels are not my first choice genre, I like that the author chose it to inform us about an extremely important historical figure. The pictures tell a good part of the story that is not explicitly written. I am a teacher and I intend to add this book to my classroom library.
As a side note, the book binding and clarity of illustrations are not the best quality. The illustrations are just a touch blurry and the cover glue did not hold all that well.
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Sandra adams
5.0 out of 5 stars Frederick Douglas life is very interesting and the pictures are authentic.
Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2020
Verified Purchase
Beautiful book. In pristine condition. Arrival from England was quick and packaged well. Pictures and text are incredible. I’m using it as a back up to the graphic edition of Frederick Douglas’ life story.
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Top reviews from other countries

Mr. S
4.0 out of 5 stars Great read as an introduction for young and also older. Awesome pictures!
Reviewed in Canada on April 12, 2020
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Very nice book to introduce the life of Fredrick Douglass. I recommend for younger readers and older also. However, his original writings should be be read as a follow up. His original writings would give a more accurate and full view of his feelings and motivations which I believe to be necessary and worth while. The pictures and character drawings are very helpful to get a full grasp of the individuals involved in his life. I do recommend!
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Santhosh Guru
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic introduction into the life of Frederick Douglass
Reviewed in India on January 19, 2019
Verified Purchase
This is such a great and a quick primer into the era of slavery, American Civil War, Abe Lincoln through the lens of Frederick Douglass. For a complete newbie like me, this was a fantastic crash course of history on perils of slavery and the formation of USA.
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Chris D Roy
4.0 out of 5 stars Adult content, but kids can learn a lot
Reviewed in Canada on January 19, 2019
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Captures all the highlights of his life with wonderful graphic work
One person found this helpful
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