Avery Brooks appeared as Solomon Northup, and the film was directed by Gordon Parks. In the 1980s, PBS produced a television adaptation of Northup's book, called 'Solomon Northup's Odyssey' (also known as 'Half-Slave, Half-Free'). In 2013, publisher Entremonde published a French translation of Twelve Years a SlaveĪ great companion book to Twelve Years a Slave is: Solomon Northup: The Complete Story of the Author of Twelve Years a Slave, published in 2013. Illustrated version by Randy DeCuir, 2013 Illustrated edition, Martino Fine Books, 2010 Here is a short (but, by no means comprehensive) list of illustrated editions: Some publishers have added some value to their editions, mainly by adding pertinent illustrations. Use the following link to check for current editions of Twelve Years a Slave: With announcements of plans to create a new film adaptation of the book, many publishers, large and small, have recently created editions, in printed, e-book, and audiobook formats. See: Twelve Years a Slave, Norton Critical Editions.īecause the book was published about 160 years ago, it is in the public domain, which means it is not copyrighted, and anyone can republish it (online or in print).

I assisted by providing some editorial feedback, and am credited in a few places in the book.

It was edited by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and Kevin Burke. Norton published a Norton Critical Editions version, which includes the original text with annotations, as well as ancillary material, such as a timeline and articles, essays and book excerpts related to Solomon Northup. It's available from Amazon:Ī 2007 hardcover edition titled Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave and Plantation Life in the Antebellum South, by the late Sue Eakin (whom I assisted slightly and who credited me in some of the footnotes) is no longer in print, but paperback, audio book and e-book versions of this title are offered. One, put out by Lousiana State University Press in 1968 and edited by Sue Eakin and Joseph Logsdon, is widely available (often economically available from eBay sellers).

Three annotated versions have been published. Steward in his 1913 review of African American writers in African Methodist Episcopal Church Review (though he does spell Northup incorrectly). Though Twelve Years a Slave faded from mainstream awareness in the 20th Century, it was not overlooked by Chaplain T. Occasionally copies are offered on at reasonable prices, Also, copies can usually be found at : Twelve Years a Slave was such a popular book when published in the 1850s, and so treasured by owners, that early editions are readily available (though often in very worn condition).

Solomon northup's odyssey