The Underground Railroad

A selection of authentic narratives (Abridged)

"Like millions of my race, my mother and father were born slaves, but were not contented to live and die so."

First published in 1782, William Still's collection of accounts and letters is a powerful testament to the trials and tribulations of fugitive slaves who used the Underground Railroad, a secret network that enabled them to escape from bondage.  A "conductor" for the railroad, Still was the son of a fugitive slave himself and a campaigner for social reform.

This abridged edition of The Underground Railroad brings to light the terrors experienced by the thousands of African-Americans who sought a better life in the northern states of America and in Canada.  Incredibly moving, it offers a fascinating insight into this vital aspect of nineteenth century American history.