Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom
{{short description|2018 book by David W. Blight}}
{{Infobox book
| name = Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom
| image = Frederick Douglass (David W. Blight).png
| alt =
| caption = First edition cover
| author = David W. Blight
| audio_read_by = Prentice Onayemi{{Cite book |url=https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Frederick-Douglass/David-W-Blight/9781508265665 |title=Frederick Douglass Audiobook by David W. Blight, Prentice Onayemi |publisher=Simon & Schuster |date=16 October 2018 |isbn=978-1-5082-6566-5 |access-date=December 18, 2019}}
| cover_artist = Darren Haggar (design){{Cite book |url=https://lithub.com/if-they-gave-oscars-to-books-our-2018-nominees/ |title=If They Gave Oscars to Books, Our 2018 Nominees |last=Temple |first=Emily |date=February 21, 2019 |publisher=Literary Hub |access-date=December 18, 2019}}
| country = United States
| language = English
| subject = Frederick Douglass
| publisher = Simon & Schuster
| media_type = Print (hardcover)
| awards =
- Pulitzer Prize for History (2019)
- Bancroft Prize (2019)
| isbn = 978-1-4165-9031-6
| isbn_note = (hardcover)
| oclc = 1022622448
| dewey = 973.8092 B
| congress = E449.D75 B557 2018
}}
Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom is a 2018 biography of African American abolitionist, writer, and orator Frederick Douglass, written by historian David W. Blight and published by Simon & Schuster. It won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for History.{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/oct/27/frederick-douglass-prophet-of-freedom-review-biography | title=Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom review: a monumental biography | newspaper=The Guardian | first=John S. |last=Gardner | date= October 27, 2018 | access-date= October 23, 2019}}{{cite web | url=https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/david-w-blight| title=The 2019 Pulitzer Prize Winner in History | publisher=www.pulitzer.org | access-date= October 23, 2019}}
Reception
According to Book Marks, the book received a "rave" consensus, based on twenty-seven critics: twenty "rave" and seven "positive".{{Cite web |title=Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom|url=https://bookmarks.reviews/reviews/frederick-douglass-prophet-of-freedom/|access-date=16 January 2024 |website=Book Marks}}
Film adaptation
In April 2019, it was reported that a feature film adaptation of the book was being produced by Barack Obama and Michelle Obama in partnership with Netflix.{{Cite web |url=https://apnews.com/f40010a4c1d2431b82fce2ea2a9b5843 |title=Obamas unveil slate of series, documentaries for Netflix |last=Coyle |first=Jake |date=April 30, 2019 |website=Associated Press |access-date=December 18, 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/30/business/media/obama-netflix-shows.html |title=The Obamas and Netflix Just Revealed the Shows and Films They're Working On |last=Koblin |first=John |date=April 30, 2019 |website=The New York Times |access-date=December 18, 2019}} In 2023 it was reported that Regina King will direct the film, with a script by Kemp Powers.{{Cite news |last=Sperling |first=Nicole |date=2023-12-06 |title=Obamas' Vision for Hollywood Company: 'This Isn't Like Masterpiece Theatre' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/06/business/media/barack-michelle-obama-higher-ground-netflix.html |access-date=2024-01-31 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}
In 2022, Frederick Douglass: In Five Speeches, a documentary film based on the book, was released by HBO on various streaming platforms.{{Cite web |last=Cordero |first=Rosy |date=2022-02-01 |title=Frederick Douglass Documentary 'In Five Speeches' Gets Premiere At HBO |url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/frederick-douglass-documentary-in-five-speeches-premiere-date-hbo-1234923625/ |access-date=2022-12-25 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}
Awards and honors
- 2019 Bancroft Prize, winner{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/07/arts/bancroft-prize-history-awarded.html |title=Bancroft Prize for History Is Awarded to 2 Scholars |last=Schuessler |first=Jennifer |date=March 7, 2019 |website=The New York Times |access-date=December 18, 2019}}
- 2019 Francis Parkman Prize, winner{{Cite web |url=https://sah.columbia.edu/content/david-w-blight-wins-francis-parkman-prize |title=David W. Blight Wins the Francis Parkman Prize |website=Society of American Historians |publisher=Columbia University |access-date=December 18, 2019}}
- 2019 Lincoln Prize, winner{{Cite web |url=https://news.yale.edu/2019/02/19/david-blight-honored-lincoln-prize-his-book-frederick-douglass |title=David Blight honored with Lincoln Prize for his book on Frederick Douglass |last=Connolly |first=Bess |date=February 19, 2019 |website=YaleNews |publisher=Yale University |access-date=December 18, 2019}}
- 2019 Mark Lynton History Prize, shortlist{{Cite web |url=https://journalism.columbia.edu/2019-lukas-prize-shortlist |title=Columbia Journalism School Announces the 2019 J. Anthony Lukas Prize Project Awards Shortlist |date=February 26, 2019 |website=Columbia Journalism School |access-date=December 18, 2019}}
- 2019 Plutarch Award, winner{{Cite web |url=https://biographersinternational.org/news/david-w-blight-wins-2019-plutarch-award/ |title=David W. Blight Wins 2019 Plutarch Award |date=June 7, 2019 |website=Biographers International Organization |access-date=December 18, 2019}}
- 2019 Pulitzer Prize for History, winner
- 2018 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Biography, winner{{Cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/about/pressreleases/la-mediagroup-20190412-story.html |title=Los Angeles Times Book Prizes Winners Announced |date=April 12, 2019 |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=December 18, 2019}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{PulitzerPrize History}}
Category:Pulitzer Prize for History–winning works
Category:2018 non-fiction books
Category:Books about Frederick Douglass
Category:Simon & Schuster books
Category:Books by David W. Blight
Category:Bancroft Prize–winning works
{{US-hist-book-stub}}