Frederick Douglass was a prominent American author, abolitionist, and public speaker. Born into slavery in 1818, he escaped on a train and headed north to Maryland, Philadelphia, and eventually New York City, where he took refuge and became a famous orator and abolitionist. Douglass recounted the struggles he faced as a slave through multiple narratives, most notably his autobiography, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. The book became an instant bestseller, despite its initial opposition and skeptical reception. His other famous books include My Bondage and My Freedom and Life and Times of Frederick Douglass.