Up from Slavery and Other Early Black Narratives

Washington was without question the most prominent spokesman for his race during the post-Reconstruction period. Whether he is viewed as a savior or a traitor to his race -- both opinions were held by his contemporaries -- his autobiography is essential reading for its insight into the black experience in the early twentieth century. This Collector's Edition also includes excerpts from five slave narratives, including the first known narrative by an enslaved woman in the Americas. Illustrations are drawn from the vast archives of The New York Public Library's Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

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The New York Public Library Collector's Editions

Favorite masterpieces of world literature illustrated by rare and beautiful materials from the Library's collections and featuring an elegant, distinctive design, with foil-trimmed covers with matching endpapers; compact, easy-to-hold size; and modern, readable type. Each book includes a biography of the author, a short essay about the images and artifacts from the Library used to illustrate the text, and suggestions for further reading.