Brown, William Wells

Brown, William Wells
born 1814?, near Lexington, Ky., U.S.
died Nov. 6, 1884, Chelsea, Mass.

U.S. writer.

Born into slavery, Brown escaped and educated himself, settling in the Boston area. He wrote a popular autobiography, Narrative of William W. Brown, A Fugitive Slave (1847), and lectured on abolitionism and temperance reform. Clotel (1853), his only novel, concerning the descendants of Thomas Jefferson and a slave, was the first novel ever published by an African American. His only play, The Escape (1858), is about two slaves who secretly marry.

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▪ American writer
born 1814?, near Lexington, Ky., U.S.
died Nov. 6, 1884, Chelsea, Mass.
 American writer who is considered to be the first African-American to publish a novel. He was also the first to have a play and a travel book published.

      Brown was born to a black slave (slave narrative) mother and a white slaveholding father. He grew up near St. Louis, Mo., where he served various masters, including the abolitionist Elijah P. Lovejoy. Brown escaped in 1834 and adopted the name of a Quaker, Wells Brown, who aided him when he was a runaway. He settled in the Great Lakes region before moving to the Boston area. In 1847 his popular autobiography Narrative of William W. Brown, a Fugitive Slave was published. Its highly dramatic content is set forth in a remarkably detached style. Having educated himself, Brown began lecturing on abolitionism and temperance reform. His antislavery lectures in Europe inspired Three Years in Europe (1852), which was expanded as The American Fugitive in Europe (1855).

      Brown's only novel, Clotel (1853), tells the story of the daughters and granddaughters of President Thomas Jefferson and his slave Currer. His only published play is The Escape; or, A Leap for Freedom (1858), a melodrama, with notable comic moments, about two slaves who secretly marry. Brown's historical writings include The Black Man (1863), The Negro in the American Rebellion (1867), and The Rising Son (1873). His final book, My Southern Home (1880), contains miscellanea about slave life, abolitionism, and racism.

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  • Brown, William Wells — (¿1814?, cerca de Lexington, Ky., EE.UU.–6 nov. 1884, Chelsea, Mass.). Escritor estadounidense. Nacido en la esclavitud, Brown escapó, y se radicó en las cercanías de Boston. Fue autodidacta; escribió su autobiografía, Narrative of William W.… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • William Wells Brown — (* 6. November 1814 bei Lexington, Kentucky; † 6. November 1884 in Chelsea, Massachusetts) war ein US amerikanischer Abolitionist, Dozent, Romanautor, Dramatiker und Historiker …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • William Wells Brown — Infobox Person name = William Wells Brown image size = 147px caption = birth date = 1814 birth place = Lexington, Kentucky death date = death date|1884|11|06|mf=y death place = Chelsea, Massachusetts occupation = Abolitionist, writer, historian.… …   Wikipedia

  • Wells — Wells, Herbert George Wells, Horace * * * (as used in expressions) Julia Elizabeth Wells Beadle, George Wells Brown, William Wells Llandrindod Wells Wells Fargo & Co. Wells, H(erbert) G(eorge) Wells, Ida B(ell) Ida Bell Wells Barnett …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Brown — Brown, Herbert Charles Brown, James Brown, John Brown, Michael S. Brown, Robert * * * (as used in expressions) Brown v. Board of Education (de Topeka) Brown, Capability Lancelot Brown Brown, Charles Brockden …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Wells — /welz/, n. 1. Henry, 1805 78, U.S. businessman: pioneered in banking, stagecoach services, and express shipping. 2. H(erbert) G(eorge), 1866 1946, English novelist and historian. 3. Horace, 1815 48, U.S. dentist: pioneered use of nitrous oxide as …   Universalium

  • William — /wil yeuhm/, n. 1. a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter W. 2. a male given name: from Germanic words meaning will and helmet. * * * (as used in expressions) Huddie William Ledbetter Aberhart William George William… …   Universalium

  • William — (as used in expressions) William Alexander Abbott Aberhart, William George William Russell Amis, Sir Kingsley (William) Ashley, William Henry Ashton, Sir Frederick (William Mallandaine) Barkley, Alben W(illiam) Bartram, William William Allen… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • William Brown — (or Browne) may refer to (some of whom were also called Bill ): Politicians, jurists, and diplomats*William Brown (congressman) (1779 ndash;1833), U.S. Representative from Kentucky, 1819 ndash;1821 *William J. Brown (Indiana) (1805 ndash;1857), U …   Wikipedia

  • Brown (Familienname) — Brown ist ein englischer Familienname. Herkunft und Bedeutung Der Name ist die englische Entsprechung des deutschen Namens Braun. Varianten Browne, Broun Bekannte Namensträger Inhaltsverzeichnis A B C D E F G …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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