Author's Birth -- Author's place of birth -- Description of country -- Its inhabitants -- Genealogical trees -- Method of counting time in slave districts -- Date of author's birth -- Names of grandparents -- Their cabin -- Home with them -- Slave practice of separating mothers from their children -- Author's recollections of his mother -- Who was his father? -- Removal from Grandmother's -- Author's early home -- Its charms -- Author's ignorance of "old master" -- His gradual perception of the truth concerning him -- His relations to Col. Edward Lloyd -- Author's removal to "old master's" home -- His journey thence -- His separation from his grandmother -- His grief -- Troubles of Childhood -- Col. Lloyd's plantation -- Aunt Katy -- Her cruelty and ill-nature -- Capt. Anthony's partiality to Aunt Katy -- Allowance of food -- Author's hunger -- Unexpected rescue by his mother -- The reproof of Aunt Katy -- Sleep -- A slave-mother's love -- Author's inheritance -- His mother's acquirements -- Her death -- A General Survey of the Slave Plantation -- Home plantation of Colonel Lloyd -- Its isolation -- Its industries -- The slave rule -- Power of overseers -- Author finds some enjoyment -- Natural scenery -- Sloop "Sally Lloyd" -- Wind-mill -- Slave quarter -- "Old master's" house -- Stables, store-houses, etc., etc. -- The great house -- Its surroundings -- Lloyd Burialplace -- Superstition of Slaves -- Colonel Lloyd's wealth -- Negro politeness -- Doctor Copper -- Captain Anthony -- His family.

Master Daniel Lloyd -- His brothers -- Social etiquette -- A Slaveholder's Character -- Increasing acquaintance with old master -- Evils of unresisted passion -- Apparent tenderness -- A man of trouble -- Custom of muttering to himself -- Brutal outrage -- A drunken overseer -- Slaveholder's impatience -- Wisdom of appeal -- A base and selfish attempt to break up a courtship. -- A Child's Reasoning -- The author's early reflections on Slavery -- Aunt Jennie and Uncle Noah -- Presentiment of one day becoming a freeman -- Conflict between an overseer and a slave woman -- Advantage of resistance -- Death of an overseer -- Col. Lloyd's plantation home -- Monthly distribution of food -- Singing of Slaves -- An esplanation -- The slaves' food and clothing -- Naked Children -- Life in the quarter -- Sleeping-places -- Not beds -- Deprivation of sleep -- Care of nursing babies -- Ash cake -- Contrast -- Luxuries at the Great House -- Contrasts -- Great House luxuries -- Its hospitality -- Entertainments -- Fault-finding -- Shameful humiliation of an old and faithful coachman -- William Wilks -- Curious incident -- Expressed satisfaction not always genuine -- Reasons for suppressing the truth -- Characteristics of Overseers -- Austin Gore -- Sketch -- Of his character -- Overseers as a class -- Their peculiar characteristics -- The marked individuality of Austin Gore -- His sense of duty -- Murder of poor Denby -- Sensation -- How Gore made his peace with Col. Lloyd -- Other horrible murders.

No laws for the protection of slaves possible of being enforced -- Change of Location -- Miss Lucretia -- Her kindness -- How it was manifested -- "Ike" -- A battle with him -- Miss Lucretia's balsam -- Bread -- How it was obtained -- Gleams of sunset amidst the general darkness -- Suffering from cold -- How we took our meal mush -- Preparations for going to Baltimore -- Delight at the change -- Cousin Tom's opinion of Baltimore -- Arrival there -- Kind reception -- Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Auld -- Their son Tommy -- My relations to them -- My duties -- A turning-point in my life -- Learning to Read -- City annoyances -- Plantation regrets -- My mistress -- Her history -- My master -- His sourness -- My comforts -- Increased sensitiveness -- My occupation -- Learning to read -- Baneful effects of slaveholding on my dear, good mistress -- Mr. Hugh forbids Mrs. Sophia to teach me further -- Clouds gather on my bright prospects -- Master Auld's exposition of the Philosophy of Slavery -- City slaves -- Country slaves -- Exceptions -- Mr. Hamilton's two slaves -- Mrs. Hamilton's cruel treatment of them -- Piteous aspect presented by them -- No power to come between the slave and slaveholder -- Growing in Knowledge -- Her slaveholding duties -- Their effects on her originally noble nature -- The conflict in her mind -- She opposes my learning to read -- Too late -- She had given me the "inch," I was resolved to take the "ell" -- How I pursued my study to read -- My tutors -- What progress I made -- Slavery.

What I heard said about it -- Thirteen years old -- Columbian orator -- Dialogue -- Speeches -- Sheridan -- Pitt -- Lords Chatham and Fox -- Knowledge increasing -- Liberty -- Singing -- Sadness -- Unhappiness of Mrs. Sophia -- My hatred of slavery -- One Upas tree overshadaws us all -- Religious Nature Awakened -- Abolitionists spoken of -- Eagerness to know the meaning of word -- Consults the dictionary -- Incendiary information -- The enigma solved -- "Nat Turner" insurrection -- Cholera -- Religion -- Methodist minister -- Religious impressions -- Father Lawson -- His character and occupation -- His influence over me -- Our mutual attachment -- New hopes and aspirations -- Heavenly light -- Two Irishmen on wharf -- Conversation with them -- Learning to write -- My aims -- The Vicissitudes of Slave Life -- Death of old Master's son Richard, speedily followed by that of old Master -- Valuation and division of all the property, including the slaves -- Sent for to come to Hillsborough to be valued and divided -- Sad prospects and grief -- Parting -- Slaves have no voice in deciding their own destinies -- General dread of falling into Master Andrew's hands -- His drunkenness -- Good fortune in falling to Miss Lucretia -- She allows my return to Baltimore -- Joy at Master Hugh's -- Death of Miss Lucretia -- Master Thomas Auld's second marriage -- The new wife unlike the old -- Again removed from Master Hugh's -- Reasons for regret -- Plan of escape -- Experience in St. Michaels -- St. Michaels and its inhabitants.

Capt. Auld -- His new wife -- Sufferings from hunger -- Forced to steal -- Argument in vindication thereof -- Southern camp-meeting -- What Capt. Auld did there -- Hopes -- Suspicions -- The result -- Faith and works at variance -- Position in the church -- Poor Cousin Henny -- Methodist preachers -- Their disregard of the slaves -- One exception -- Sabbath-school -- How and by whom broken up -- Sad change in my prospects -- Covey, the negro-breaker -- Covey, the Negro Breaker -- Journey to Covey's -- Meditations by the way -- Covey's house -- Family -- Awkwardness as a field hand -- A cruel beating -- Why given -- Description of Covey -- First attempt at driving oxen -- Hair-breadth escape -- Ox and man alike property -- Hard labor more effective than the whip for breaking down the spirit -- Cunning and trickery of Covey -- Family worship -- Shocking and indecent contempt for chastity -- Great mental agitation -- Anguish beyond description -- Another Pressure of the Tyrant's Vise -- Experience at Covey's summed up -- First six month's severer than the remaining six -- Preliminaries to the change -- Reasons for narrating the circumstances -- Scene in the treading-yard -- Author taken ill -- Escapes to St. Michaels -- The pursuit -- Suffering in the woods -- Talk with Master Thomas -- His beating -- Driven back to Covey's -- The slaves never sick -- Natural to expect them to feign sickness -- Laziness of slaveholders -- The Last Flogging -- A sleepless night -- Return to Covey's -- Punished by him.

The chase defeated -- Vengeance postponed -- Musings in the woods -- The alternative -- Deplorable spectacle -- Night in the woods -- Expected attack -- Accosted by Sandy -- A friend, not a master -- Sandy's hospitality -- The ash-cake supper -- Interview with Sandy -- His advice -- Sandy a conjuror as well as a Christian -- The magic root -- Strange meeting with Covey -- His manner -- Covey's Sunday face -- Author's defensive resolve -- The fight -- The victory, and its results -- New Relations and Duties -- Change of masters -- Benefits derived by change -- Fame of the fight with Covey -- Reckless unconcern -- Author's abhorrence of slavery -- Ability to read a cause of prejudice -- The holidays -- How spent -- Sharp hit at slavery -- Effects of holidays -- Difference between Covey and Freeland -- An irreligious master preferred to a religious one -- Hard life at Covey's useful to the author -- Improved condition does not bring contentment -- Congenial society at Freeland's -- Author's Sabbath-school -- Secrecy necessary -- Affectionate relations of tutor and pupils -- Confidence and friendship among slaves -- Slavery the inviter of vengeance -- The Runaway Plot -- New Year's thoughts and meditations -- Again hired by Freeland -- Kindness no compensation for slavery -- Incipient steps toward escape -- Considerations leading thereto -- Hostility to slavery -- Solemn vow taken -- Plan divulged to slaves -- Columbian orator again -- Scheme gains favor -- Danger of discovery -- Skill of slaveholders.

Suspicion and coercion -- Hymns with double meaning -- Consultation -- Pass-word -- Hope and fear -- Ignorance of Geography -- Imaginary difficulties -- Patrick Henry -- Sandy a dreamer -- Route to the north mapped out -- Objections -- Frauds -- Passes -- Anxieties -- Fear of failure -- Strange presentiment -- Coincidence -- Betrayal -- Arrests -- Resistance -- Mrs. Freeland -- Prison -- Brutal Jests -- Passes eaten -- Denial -- Sandy -- Dragged behind horses -- Slave traders -- Alone in prison -- Sent to Baltimore -- Apprenticeship Life -- Nothing lost in my attempt to run away -- Comrades at home -- Reasons for sending me away -- Eturn to Baltimore -- Tommy changed -- Caulking in Gardiner's ship yard -- Desperate fight -- Its causes -- Conflict between white and black labor -- Outrage -- Testimony -- Master Hugh -- Slavery in Baltimore -- My condition improves -- New associations -- Slaveholder's right to the slave's wages -- How to make a discontented slave -- Escape From Slavery -- Closing incidents in my "Life as a Slave" -- Discontent -- Master's generosity -- Difficulties in the way of escape -- Plan to obtain money -- Allowed to hire my time -- A gleam of hope -- Attend camp-meeting -- Anger of Master Hugh -- Plans of escape -- Day for departure fixed -- Harassing doubts and fears-Painful thoughts of separation from friends -- Escape From Slavery -- Reasons for not having revealed the manner of escape -- Nothing of romance in the method -- Danger -- Free papers -- Unjust tax -- Protection papers.

"Free trade and sailors' rights" -- American eagle -- Railroad train -- Unobserving conductor -- Capt. McGowan -- Honest German -- Fears -- Safe arrival in Philadelphia -- Ditto in New York -- Life as a Freeman -- Loneliness and insecurity -- "Allender's Jake" -- Succored by a sailor -- David Ruggles -- Marriage -- Steamer J.W. Richmond -- Stage to New Bedford -- Driver's detention of baggage -- Nathan Johnson -- Change of name -- Why called "Douglass" -- Obtaining Work -- The Liberator and its Editor -- Introduced to the Abolitionists -- Anti-Slavery Convention at Nantucket -- First Speech -- Much Sensation -- Extraordinary Speech of Mr. Garrison -- Anti-Slavery Agency -- Youthful Enthusiasm -- Fugitive Slaveship Doubted -- Experience in slavery written -- Danger of Recapture -- Recollections of Old Friends -- Work in Rhode Island -- Dorr War -- Recollections of old friends -- Further labors in Rhode Island and elsewhere in New England -- One Hundred Conventions -- Anti-Slavery Conventions held in parts of New England, and in some of the Middle and Western States -- Mobs -- Incidents, etc. -- Impressions Abroad -- Danger to be averted -- A refuge sought abroad -- Voyage on the steamship Cambria -- Refusal of first-class passage -- Attractions of the fore-castle deck -- Hutchinson family -- Invited to make a speech -- Southerners feel insulted -- Captain threatens to put them in irons -- Experiences abroad -- Attentions received -- Impressions of different members of Parliament, and of other public men.

Contrast with life in America -- Kindness of friends -- Their purchase of my person, and the gift of the same to myself -- My return -- Triumphs and Trials -- New Experiences -- Painful Disagreement of Opinion with old Friends -- Final Decision to publish my Paper in Rochester -- Its Fortunes and its Friends -- Change in my own Views Regarding the Constitution of the United States -- Fidelity to Conviction -- Loss of Old Friends -- Support of New Ones -- Loss of House, etc., by Fire -- Triumphs and Trials -- Underground Railroad -- Incidents -- John Brown and Mrs. Stowe -- My First Meeting with Capt. John Brown -- The Free Soil Movement -- Colored Convention -- Uncle Tom's Cabin -- Industrial School for Colored People -- Letter to Mrs. H.B. Stowe -- Increasing Demands of the Slave Power -- Increased demands of slavery -- War in Kansas -- John Brown's raid -- His capture and execution -- My escape to England from United States marshals -- The Beginning of the End -- My connection with John Brown -- To and from England -- Presidential contest -- Election of Abraham Lincoln -- Secession and War -- Recruiting of the 54th and 55th Colored Regiments -- Visit to President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton -- Promised a Commission as Adjutant-General to General Thomas -- Disappointment -- Hope for the Nation -- Proclamation of emancipation -- Its reception in Boston -- Objections brought against it -- Its effect on the country -- Interview with President Lincoln -- New York riots -- Re-election of Mr. Lincoln.

His inauguration, and inaugural -- Vice-President Johnson -- Presidential reception -- The fall of Richmond -- Fanueil Hall -- The assassination -- Condolence -- Vast Changes -- Satisfaction and anxiety, new fields of labor opening -- Lyceums and colleges soliciting addresses -- Literary attractions -- Pecuniary gain -- Still pleading for human rights -- President Andy Johnson -- Colored delegation -- Their reply to him -- National Loyalist Convention, 1866, and its procession -- Not wanted -- Meeting with an old friend -- Joy and surprise -- The old master's welcome, and Miss Amanda's friendship -- Enfranchisement debated and accomplished -- The negro a citizen -- Living and Learning -- Inducement to a political career -- A newspaper enterprise -- The New National Era -- Its abandonment -- The Freedman's Saving and Trust Company -- Sad experience -- Vindication -- Weighed in the Balance -- The Santo Domingo controversy -- Decoration Day at Arlington, 1871 -- Speech delivered there -- National colored convention at New Orleans, 1872 -- Elector at large for the State of New York -- Death of Hon. Henry Wilson -- "Time Makes all Things Even" -- Return to "old master" -- A last interview -- Capt. Auld's admission "had I been in your place, I should have done as you did" -- Speech at Easton -- The old jail there -- Invited to a sail on the revenue cutter Guthrie -- Hon. John L. Thomas -- Visit to the old plantation -- Home of Col. Lloyd -- Kind reception and attentions -- Familiar scenes -- Old memories.

Burial-ground-Hospitality -- Gracious reception from Mrs. Buchanan -- A little girl's floral gift -- A promise of a "good time coming" -- Speech at Harper's Ferry, Decoration day, 1881 -- Storer College -- Hon. A.J. Hunter -- Incidents and Events -- Hon. Gerrit Smith and Mr. E.C. Delevan -- Experiences at Hotels and on Steamboats and other modes of travel -- Hon. Edward Marshall -- Grace Greenwood -- Hon. Moses Norris -- Robert J. Ingersoll -- Reflections and conclusions -- Compensations -- "Honor to Whom Honor" -- Grateful recognition -- Friends in need -- Lucretia Mott -- Lydia Maria Child -- Sarah and Angelina Grimke -- Abby Kelley -- H. Beecher Stowe -- Other Friends -- Woman Suffrage -- Retrospection -- Meeting of colored citizens in Washington to express their sympathy at the great national bereavement, the death of President Garfield -- Concluding reflections and conviction -- Oration at the unveiling of the Freedmen's monument, at Lincoln Park, Washington, D.C., April 14, 1876 -- Extract from a speech delivered at Elmira, N.Y., August 1, 1880.