Rating: 4 out of 5

I hadn’t heard of this book until the film came out (which I haven’t seen) but I was intrigued and thought I’d find it. An engaging read. Not an easy read, but that was more to do with subject matter than writing style. Worth a read.

Highlighted passages:

It is a fact I have more than once observed, that those who treated their slaves most leniently, were rewarded by the greatest amount of labor.

The existence of Slavery in its most cruel form among them, has a tendency to brutalize the humane and finer feelings of their nature. Daily witnesses of human suffering - listening to the agonizing screeches of the slave - beholding him writhing beneath the merciless lash - bitten and torn by dogs - dying without attention, and buried without shroud or coffin - it cannot otherwise be expected, than that they should become brutified and reckless of human life.

It is not the fault of the slaveholder that he is cruel, so much as it is the fault of the system under which he lives.

Taught from earliest childhood, by all that he sees and hears, that the rod is for the slave’s back, he will not be apt to change his opinions in maturer years.

They are deceived who flatter themselves that the ignorant and debased slave has no conception of the magnitude of his wrongs. They are deceived who imagine that he arises from his knees, with back lacerated and bleeding, cherishing only a spirit of meekness and forgiveness. A day may come - it will come, if his prayer is heard - a terrible day of vengeance when the master in his turn will cry in vain for mercy.

Originally posted to my Goodreads account