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My Life In The South
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.
67 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1879
25 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Jacob Stroyer
12ÌýbooksJacob Stroyer (1849 - February 7, 1908) was an African-American former slave who became a preacher in Massachusetts. He is best known for his autobiography, My Life in the South.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 21, 2022
Charles van Buren
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Written in an engaging style
Overall, this autobiographical book seems mostly reliable but the following quote from the introduction gives a good idea of what to expect. "Mr. Stroyer's book is a setting forth in a fresh and unique manner of the old and bitter wrongs of American slavery." Of course. There was little market for anything else and, as related in the introduction, Stroyer wrote this volume to make money. Money for a worthy cause, but still written to make money which required at least a degree of sensationalism. However it is not as strident and lecturing as many similar books.
Details of his time in the Confederate labor force would, undoubtedly, have been interesting. However, he says very little about it other than that he was glad to be sent there, he was able to continue his education, and he was wounded. All in all, another book on the evils of American slavery, not slavery as a general concept but specifically American slavery.
Not a bad choice for Black History Month. Of course almost anything by Thomas Sowell would be an even better choice.
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Written in an engaging style
Overall, this autobiographical book seems mostly reliable but the following quote from the introduction gives a good idea of what to expect. "Mr. Stroyer's book is a setting forth in a fresh and unique manner of the old and bitter wrongs of American slavery." Of course. There was little market for anything else and, as related in the introduction, Stroyer wrote this volume to make money. Money for a worthy cause, but still written to make money which required at least a degree of sensationalism. However it is not as strident and lecturing as many similar books.
Details of his time in the Confederate labor force would, undoubtedly, have been interesting. However, he says very little about it other than that he was glad to be sent there, he was able to continue his education, and he was wounded. All in all, another book on the evils of American slavery, not slavery as a general concept but specifically American slavery.
Not a bad choice for Black History Month. Of course almost anything by Thomas Sowell would be an even better choice.
February 4, 2019
This is an honest and straight forward memoir of a former servant in the Old South. The author does not pull any punches on his opinions, observations, and memories of his years as a servant and subsequent freedom. I recommend reading this book for students of nineteenth century history.
February 19, 2020
Stroyer is a good story teller, who offers brief but interesting remembrances of his childhood and adolescence as a slave in South Carolina. Other than his own experiences, he gives us a few heresay anecdotes, too, which fill out his memoire of living in the culture of southern slavery. The final chapters are about his experiences as a slave on the battlegrounds of the civil war. This book is a quick read, but interesting, emotional, and educational.
December 27, 2020
I was looking forward to reading this book, but my guard went up from the start, when by the author's own admission, he wrote this book to raise money for his education. Soon I discovered that it felt no different than the sensationalism of other period autobiographies like John Wesley Hardin's autobiography. I have no way of differentiating fact from sensationalized fact or even fiction. Needless to say, I was very disappointed.
January 30, 2023
Engagingly written, Mr Stoyer tells the difficult life of a slave in the antebellum South. His detailed anecdotes make his writing accessible for a variety of readers. As a former English teacher, I feel this would be a perfect companion for students studying slavery or memoir writing in either a history or English class.
May 29, 2018
Ideal historiography of this nation's hypocrisy of unreal democracy.
Many little known facts offer rare illustrations of our nation's true debt to Blacks who died in captivity while fighting to keep white "masters" free.
Many little known facts offer rare illustrations of our nation's true debt to Blacks who died in captivity while fighting to keep white "masters" free.
February 4, 2021
Stroyer’s account of his life of enslavement and freedom is notable for the numerous vignettes he writes about people, places, and moments. It helps me understand the relationship not only between the enslaved and the slavers, but also inside the enslaved community.
October 14, 2019
Interesting, engaging, especially of local interest to Charleston, SC
January 6, 2021
Not much to be analyzed here. Straightforward observations, solid vocabulary for someone who had been enslaved, and a decent variety of memories and interactions.
May 26, 2022
Eye. Opening.
November 16, 2022
A good reference / firsthand account of an enslaved man. Great for any interpreter/ historian looking for a rich and rare primary resource from this time, featuring a Black voice.
April 15, 2011
This is such a rare opportunity to read about the slave experience first hand. I've been to the plantation where Jacob Stroyer was enslaved so it was even more fascinating. I was particularly struck by his strong belief in God despite everything he witnessed and went through.
November 21, 2019
An eye-opening first person account of slave life in the US in the 1800's. Stroyer recounts his childhood and young adult years pre-emancipation. His memories include the treatment of enslaved family members and friends.
November 7, 2012
Good first hand account of the hard life of the slaves.
October 28, 2019
Read for personal research - found this book's contents helpful and inspiring.
A good book for the researcher and enthusiast.
A good book for the researcher and enthusiast.
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April 3, 2016Should be required reading for all Americans.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
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