Narrative of James Williams an American Slave (1838)

A Memoir by James Williams

Narrative of James Williams an American Slave was one of the first published accounts of the life of a slave by someone who experienced firsthand what it was like being held in bondage against their will. The book was assumed at first to be fraudulent because the name of the person who wrote the book was changed to protect their safety, in 2013 an annotated version of the book was published with detailed information about the true identity of its writer as well as other events pertaining to the story. Considered today to be an important addition to the limited narratives of American slave history, reading the account Williams put forth makes for unforgettable reading.