Frederick Douglass (original 1991; edition 1995)

This thoroughly researched account of the great abolitionist covers his life from his birth to his death with some comments on his later legacy. Born on a plantation, seperated from his mother, Douglass was sent to Baltimore to live and work. He eventually fled for his freedom and became an electrifying orator. He met many famous people and exerted some influence on the treatment of African Americans, but in the end would be disappointed at the remainig gap between black and white citizens. He became an ambassador to Haiti. Successful himself, he was unable to make opportunities for his children. While successful as a work of research, this book has been criticized as containing too much speculation and unsupported psychological analysis.