Amos Fortune, Free Man

This book is required reading for American Academy Middle School students, but is recommended for people, ages 12 and up, who are trying to understand early American life and the subject of slavery, particularly in the northern states. "Amos Fortune" is a true story about a young African prince torn from his family, people, and homeland. He undergoes a process of dehumanization, including a horrific slave-ship sea crossing, before being sold as a slave into first one and then another Massachusetts family; so we see two complete portraits of slave life. After a while, he buys his own and his wife's freedom and travels to picturesque New Hampshire where he builds a homestead and a legacy for himself. In so doing perhaps he plants seeds that help bring an end to that "peculiar institution," slavery. Beautifully told by Ms. Yates, we see Amos learn to read and become a faithful Christian. His childlike dream to buy his sister's freedom grows into a mature buying of the freedom of women he loves. He masters the tanning trade, which we learn about. We experience his strong and majestic character in overlooking a benighted age's slights and building his own freehold homestead, near "his" mountain, in this free country he loves. Amos Fortune is an outstanding man worthy of imitation. His story will never die or grow old. All American young people should read this book. It, along with: "April Morning," by Howard Fast; "A Light in the Forest," by Conrad Richter; "First Lady of Faith and Courage: Abigail Adams," by Evelyn Witter; and "The Autobiography," by Benjamin Franklin; paint a multifaceted view of the particular pains, prejudices and daily life in northern colonial America from the perspective of, respectively, black citizens, traditional revolutionary families, American Indians, women, and a particular famous artisan-scientist-inventor-statesman whose life spanned and intertwined itself with the century of America's birth.

This novel is the incredibly inspiring account of Amos Fortune. I read it aloud to my son, and was moved by this man’s extraordinary life as much he was. We would all do well to be a bit more like this man - joyful in terrible trials, disciplined, hard-working, compassionate and generous. A true hero.

engaging book

This is a great classic book. I know it is a work of fiction, but it teaches lessons to young people and adults that they will never forget. I share this book every chance I get.

I love this story! What an amazing man. This is well worth the read at any age.