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The Life of Josiah Henson (AmazonClassics Edition) Kindle Edition

by Josiah Henson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 352 ratings
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Josiah Henson was born into slavery in Maryland in 1789, and although he endured incredible cruelty and abuse in the years that followed, he was eventually able to earn enough money to purchase his freedom. In fact, he made multiple such attempts, but those efforts were thwarted by swindles and broken deals, and Henson was forced to plot a dangerous escape instead. Under the continual threat of recapture, he, his wife, and their four children made their way north to Canada, where Henson threw himself to the ground, overwhelmed with joy and relief. Thereafter, Henson established the Dawn Settlement, a self-sustaining farming community for other formerly enslaved people, which eventually grew to include five hundred members.

Henson’s powerful narrative is a remarkable testament of faith, self-reliance, and determination by one of the most influential African American abolitionists of the nineteenth century.

Revised edition: Previously published as The Life of Josiah Henson, Formerly a Slave, Now an Inhabitant of Canada, this edition of The Life of Josiah Henson (AmazonClassics Edition) includes editorial revisions.

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  1. Print length
    59 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    AmazonClassics
  5. Publication date
    January 25, 2022
  6. File size
    1332 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Josiah Henson (1789–1883) was an author, abolitionist, and minister born into slavery in Port Tobacco, Maryland. In 1830, Henson escaped with his family to Upper Canada (now Ontario), where, in the town of Dawn, he founded a settlement for fellow freedom seekers and helped to start the British American Institute, a trade school for the community. Henson also became a Methodist preacher, a military officer in the Canadian Army, and a leading figure in the Underground Railroad. In 1849, his autobiography, The Life of Josiah Henson, was published—which Harriet Beecher Stowe later acknowledged was a key inspiration for her novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09N3M85XF
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ AmazonClassics (January 25, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 25, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1332 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 59 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ B09BC41YZQ
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 352 ratings

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Josiah Henson

Josiah Henson

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
352 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Bert
5.0 out of 5 stars hidden in plain sight
Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2023
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The stories of overcoming slavery and obtaining an education are told so vividly and honestly in this book. It’s overwhelming and inspiring to an human being. I’m so happy i stumbled upon this book of knowledge.
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Love2read
5.0 out of 5 stars The human spirit!
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2018
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Slavery is a dark part of America's past that we will never forget. Biologies and stories of amazing people like Josiah Henson, remind us the human spirit is able to rise against the obstacles and impediments forced upon them. Wonderful read and highly recommended.
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M. S. Lorenzen
4.0 out of 5 stars Oh what a journey
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2021
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The first person account from Mr. Josiah is heartwarming, tense, tearful, and full of God's hope and redemptive and restorative and freeing encounters. Oh what a journey and testimony he has to share.
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L. Carter
5.0 out of 5 stars Important historical autobiography
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2019
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When Lincoln met Harriet Beacher Stowe he said, "So you're the little lady who started this big war." Actually, it wasn't her who started it, but the people she was writing about. The Uncle Tom character, I call him St. Thomas was based on real-life characters. This is one of them. It was the testimony of people like him who gave life to the abolitionist movement. This is well-written. Clearly, the (white) man interviewing Josiah used his own vernacular, translating if you will, but it does make it easier to read, and does convey the man's character better than an attempt to record the diction more likely belonging to someone raised a slave. I overlooked that, and felt I got a clear picture who this man was.
4 people found this helpful
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ken
5.0 out of 5 stars all people who be moan their lot in life. read this book and reflect
Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2021
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This man josiah henson yes was a slave in a unjust system. He found principle displine and compasion and walked the walk.He was one of the great men of any century any color. With all he faced in life brutal and unjust he found those who loved and cared for their fellow man. Together white and black they began to make a life for all who were poor and had their backs against the wall taught them trades. America prospered and canada prospered with men such as josiah henson who in are education is lost or not mentioned.
2 people found this helpful
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Guy Bernard
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent read
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2015
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Born in the state of South Dakota and raised in the state of Oregon I had no contact with slavery while growing up. In my adulthood, thru a number of associates, both black and white, I gained an understanding of the lives and perspectives of both groups. Nothing in the story told by Mr. Henson conflicts with any of my limited understanding of the institution of slavery and in fact I feel I have benefitted his writing.
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Robert P Andrews
5.0 out of 5 stars Josiah Henson's life, perhaps the most remarkable slave narrative
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2014
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Starting with so little, and accomplishing so much, this is perhaps the most remarkable slave narrative. Josiah Henson's narrative is one of 19th century honor, steadfast perseverance, and unwavering Christian faith. Henson, by nature an exceptionally intelligent and capable plantation manager, spent his first 40 years as a highly valued slave. During those first 40 years he could neither read nor write. After his successful escape to freedom in Canada, on foot with his wife and young children--a frightening journey in its own telling--Henson's real life began. He learned to read and write. His natural abilities began to flourish--as entrepreneur, educator, fund-raiser, abolitionist, Christian man, preacher, husband, father, and eventually author.
Henson's narrative was published in 1849, 3 years before "Uncle Tom's Cabin," and is accepted as having some influence on the development of Stowe's "Tom." If you read both, there is no clear comparison. Incredibly, Henson lived to be 94. He published 2-3 editions after this first short one, with more details of accomplishments, his children's adult lives, and his travels to England.
8 people found this helpful
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Alice Wallace
5.0 out of 5 stars They now have two children I have not seen but her parents seem pleased the children do not look black
Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2014
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Of interest to persons who are concerned about the issue of slavery. This is a specific little book but it fits into the overall issue.
With the situation regarding black persons today it is important to learn about the struggle black persons have had. I have heard most of my life that if the blacks were not so black they would have been absorbed into today's world. However, I have a friend who works in a public service position connected with a hospital and she has married a black man she knew for many years before she married him. They now have two children I have not seen but her parents seem pleased the children do not look black. Here in the US we seem to have absorbed Hispanics, Japanese, Chinese, Native Americans without the prejudices that prevent Blacks to be. It is unfortunate but it is the reality. It may take a long time for black people to be absorbed. Perhaps part of the answer is more and better education for the blacks.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Carla S
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 2, 2023
Verified Purchase
Liked this book. A good insight to the novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
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Stella1999
5.0 out of 5 stars Josiah Henson, un homme plus que courageux!
Reviewed in France on June 3, 2015
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Il y a des moments où participer aux souffrances des autres n'est rien d'autre que se donner la peine de lire leur histoire...
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Horse less, Homeless, Hopeless
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book. Highly recommended.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 1, 2020
Verified Purchase
Excellent book. Outlining the horrors of slavery. Josiah shows incredible spirit overcoming the worst this world threw at him. Highly recommended.
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Reading is for fun
5.0 out of 5 stars An insightful read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 2, 2018
Verified Purchase
This was an insightful, highly informative read. Those interested in American nd Canadian history as well as the history of slavery will find this book useful.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Would definitely recommend.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 2, 2019
Verified Purchase
An excellent read.
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