Amos Fortune, Free Man

by Elizabeth Yates

First published 2010

At-mun stands as a prince in his African homeland when slave traders seize him at fifteen. The auction block in America strips away his royal name, replacing it with Amos Fortune, but his dignity remains intact. He carries memories of his sister left behind and dreams that burn stronger than his chains. Amos works for decades under different masters, saving every coin he can toward freedom. He plans not just his own escape from bondage but schemes to purchase liberty for his closest companions. By sixty, Amos sees his patient dreams take shape. He learns that winning freedom means nothing without knowing how to use it wisely. His journey from African royalty to American freeman becomes a testament to the power of hope sustained across a lifetime.

Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, 19th-century, african-american-historical-fiction

Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking

Tropes: fish-out-of-water, rags-to-riches

Setting: Africa, America

Period: 19th Century

3 pages · Audio CD · Audio Bookshelf

Content warnings: slavery

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