About this item

After enduring more than 30 years of slavery, Henry "Box" Brown achieved freedom by having himself nailed inside a packing crate and shipped from Richmond to Philadelphia. Initially published in 1851, Brown's extraordinary memoir recounts the harsh circumstances of his bondage as well as the details of his 350-mile journey by railroad, steamboat, and horse cart inside a container three feet long and two feet wide. Acclaimed by Dr. Cornel West as "one of the great creative acts in the struggle for black freedom, " the story of Brown's daring escape continues to resonate as a reflection of the ongoing struggles of oppressed people around the world. Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. , declared this narrative "just as relevant now as it was 150 years ago, " and modern readers will find it an unforgettable source of inspiration.