Books by Harriet Ann Jacobs

Reader be assured this narrative is no fiction. I am aware that some of my adventures may seem incredible; but they are, nevertheless, strictly true. I have not exaggerated the wrongs inflicted by Slavery; on the contrary, my descriptions fall far short of the facts. I have concealed the names of places, and given persons fictitious names. I had no motive for secrecy on my own account, but I deemed it kind and considerate towards others to pursue this course. "I wish I were more competent to the task I have undertaken. But I trust my readers will excuse deficiencies in consideration of circumstances. I was born and reared in Slavery; and I remained in a Slave State twenty-seven years."

12 Tears of a Slave: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is a slave narrative that was published in 1861 by Harriet Ann Jacobs, using the pen name "Linda Brent." This book is an in-depth chronological account of Jacobs's life as a slave, and the decisions and choices she made to gain freedom for herself and her children. It addresses the struggles and sexual abuse that young women slaves faced on the plantations, and how these struggles were harsher than what men suffered as slaves. This book is considered sentimental and written to provoke an emotional response and sympathy from the reader toward slavery in general and slave women in particular for their struggles with rape, the pressure to have sex at an early age, the selling of their children, and the treatment of female slaves by their mistresses. Published by W2G Publishing Copyright 2014 Write2Grow LLC www.Write2Grow.org/Tears ISBN 978-1-304-85959-4 247 Printed Pages

Harriet Ann Jacobs (1813-1897) was born into slavery in North Carolina, but escaped to the north. She became involved with the Anti-Slavery Society, and her autobiography was published in 1861. Jacobs' first-hand account of the abuse suffered by slaves, especially women, caused shock and outrage.