12 years a slave - The Actual People of the True Story. Released during the 160th anniversary of the freeing of Solomon Northup in Marksvillle, Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana. First published in 1853, this gripping first hand account of how it felt to be a slave in the deep south captures the suffering and ultimate triumph of a New York free black man who was kidnapped into slavery in Louisiana. For the first time ever published, see the real faces of some of the actual people and places who Solomon Northup writes about. These are not actors, these are the portraits of the men and women who Northup met. This edition contains historic photographs, some never published before, of the areas and people of the Northup story. The illustrator lives in Avoyelles Parish and has spent a lifetime collecting historic photos. Most of the portraits and scenes in this edition taken from the files of his Avoyelles Parish archives. Many descendants of these families still reside in the area today. This edition of the book is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Sue Lyles Eakin who spent a lifetime researching and promoting the story of Solomon Northrup. This edition compliments her work and her earlier edition of the 12 years a slave work. For footnotes and more detail about the 12 years a slave book we also recommend Dr. Eakin's work so a reader can get a more complete understanding of the this important story. The story has been told in plays, movies and even courtroom anniversary recreations in the Marksville, Avoyelles Parish courthouse. The story was first made into a PBS televised movie in the 1980s, and the most recent version is a major motion picture.