Amos Fortune, Free Man

Elizabeth Yates deservedly won the Newbery Award for AMOS FORTUNE, FREE MAN in the pre-politically correct days of 1951. This carefully researched biography brings to life a man and era overlooked in history books. Born a prince in Africa, At-mun was captured at age 15, sold at a Boston slave auction, given the name Amos, taught to read, and trained as a tanner. Six decades later, he buys his freedom and, eventually, the freedom of others. Ray Childs's deep, melodious voice breathes life into a man who maintained his princely dignity through the indignities of slavery. Hearing the documents of manumission, the process by which a slave could be liberated, read in the formal language of the Colonial period underlines the authenticity of the story. N.E.M. (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine