In 1849, Henry Brown escaped from slavery by shipping himself in a three-foot-by-two-foot wooden crate from Virginia to an anti-slavery office in Philadelphia. Twenty-seven hours and 350 miles later, Brown stepped out of his box to begin a new life. This is his memoir, originally published in 1851 in England, as fresh and compelling today as it was 150 years ago. This extraordinary narrative paints an indelible portrait of life in slavery. With a keen sense of irony, Brown examines the "peculiar institution"--from the hypocrisy of slave-owning Christian preachers, to the system of bribery...

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...