William Wells Brown, An American Life

Born into slavery and "rented" out in adolescence to a succession of steamboat captains, William Wells Brown (1814–1884) ended his life as an accomplished writer and activist.  A hugely popular speaker on antislavery circuits (both American and British), Brown went on to write Clotel; or, The President's Daughter, the first novel published by an African-American.   The fictional tale of Clotel, fathered by PresidentThomas Jefferson,  echoed well-known 19th century rumors that Jefferson had several children by his slave Sally Hemings.  He also practiced medicine, ran for office, and campaigned for black uplift, temperance, and civil rights.

Black Book Talks to Ezra Greenspan,  author of William Wells Brown: An African-American Life,  about this singular figure in 19th century American literature..