{"product_id":"2940149174461","title":"The Autobiography of James L. Smith: Reminiscences of Slave Life, Recollections of the War, Education of Freedmen","description":"Born into slavery in Virginia, James Smith grew up knowing great cruelty as well as unexpected kindnesses. Always longing for freedom, as a young man he was able to make a daring escape.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOnce in the north, he made a life for himself, married and raised a family, continued his education, and keenly observed the changing world around him as America came to blows in the Civil War.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter the war, he made a trip back to Virginia, reuniting with siblings he had not seen in decades:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"My joy and excitement rose to such a height, that I scarcely knew whether I was in the body or out.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe even had an astonishingly warm visit with a former owner who brought him in to dinner.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOf the plight of African-Americans post-emancipation, Smith observed objectively: \"But, say you, the day of trial is over, the stream of sympathy may be dried up because of the nominal freedom that has been vouchsafed. I say to you nay my whole race is yet in peril, and God only knows the end.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor the first time, this long-out-of-print book is available as an affordable, well-formatted book for e-readers and smartphones.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBe sure to LOOK INSIDE or download a sample.","brand":"Big Byte Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47084662653168,"sku":"2940149174461","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940149174461_p0.jpg?v=1764003424","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940149174461","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}