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I published the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave in May 1845. I wrote it partly because people did not believe me. I toured the North lecturing about slavery and crowds said: this man is too eloquent, too educated to have been a slave. The masters do not educate their slaves. He must be lying.

So I wrote it down. Names, places, dates. The name of my first master, Captain Anthony. The plantation in Talbot County, Maryland. I was born in February 1818 — approximately. Slaves were not told their birthdays. My mother died when I was seven. I was not permitted to attend her funeral.

I listed all of this. Garrison wrote the preface. Wendell Phillips wrote an introductory letter. Within five years, thirty thousand copies had been sold in the United States and Europe. It also meant that I could no longer safely remain in America — my former master could now legally reclaim me. Friends in England purchased my freedom for one hundred fifty dollars. That is what I cost.