Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

THE INCIDENCES OF A SLAVE GIRL.

A slave girl s turbulent journey to motherhood.

The book is a saddening detailed tale of Linda a young girl born in slavery. Linda s parents died when she was still very young and she went to live with relatives for a while. Upon age 11 she goes to work for his first master who was cruel and irresponsible. His name was Dr. Flint. He was a ruthless and heartless man.

Dr. Flint pursued Linda relentlessly demanding sexual favors and physically abusing her. Linda knew that very soon Flint would overpower her and eventually rape her. She therefore, opted to agree to a relationship with his white neighbor Mr. Sands who was still single. For him, she bore two children Benny and Ellen with the hope that Flint would be so angry with her and sell her off.

In her narration, Jacobs who use the name Linda Brent for anonymity purposes vividly details how she hatched a plan to save her children from Flint s wrath. She pretended to have escaped to the North and hid in an attic long enough to see Flint selling off her children to a slave trader working for Mr. Sands.

Mr. Sands had promised to buy the children and free them later, but from her hiding place, this plan seemed elusive when Sands marries and took Ellen as a maid for his new born child. Consequently, Benny was living with Aunt Martha. After Flint s death, Emily his daughter claim ownership of Linda and with the Fugitive Slave Act being passed in the parliament, Linda was helpless.

In this book the author gives a detailed account of the following:

• Benny s stay with Aunt Martha.
• Escape to the North after 7 years of stay in the attic.
• Linda s new job in New York City for Bruce.
• Flint s continuous pursuit for Linda.
• Emily Flint travels to capture Linda.
• Bruce purchases Linda from Emily.

Harriet Ann Jacobs was an African-American writer born in slavery.