The Extraordinary Life Story of Harriet Tubman (eBook)

Sarah Hopkins Bradford (1818–1912) was an American writer and historian, best known for her pioneering work in the genre of biography and her notable contributions to African American history. Born in Mount Morris, New York, she was a contemporary of the abolitionist movement and used her writings to advocate against slavery. Among her most acclaimed works is 'The Extraordinary Life Story of Harriet Tubman', which she published in 1869 under the full title 'Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman'. In this seminal biography, Bradford captures the remarkable experiences of Harriet Tubman, the legendary 'conductor' on the Underground Railroad, weaving a narrative that combines personal accounts and dramatic retellings of Tubman's heroic rescues. Bradford's literary style in this portrayal is characterized by a blend of factual reporting informed by interviews with Tubman herself and a compelling storytelling approach that employed didactic and sentimental elements. This biography not only elevated Tubman's legacy but also made a significant impact on the recording of African American history during the post-Civil War era. Bradford continued to document lives of note with her later work 'Harriet, The Moses of Her People' (1886), which offered readers a more detailed and revised account of Tubman's life and work. These contributions by Bradford are an invaluable part of literary and historical scholarship, documenting the struggle for freedom and the contributions of African Americans to American society.