Incidents in the life of a slave girl written by herself is an autobiography by harriet jacobs a mother and fugitive slave published in 1861 by l maria child who edited the book for its author jacobs used the pseudonym linda brent the book documents jacobss life as a slave and how she gained freedom for herself and for her children jacobs contributed to the genre of slave narrative by using the techniques of sentimental novels to address race and gender issues. Incidents in the life of a slave girl is a harrowing personal experience of a aa female born and raised during the tumultuous infamous and tragic era of slavery in americas history harriett jacobs aka linda brent tells in her own voice one that is explicit and easy to understand the story of a young woman born into the brutal horrendous slavery era who later escapes to freedom in the . Of female slave narratives harriet jacobss incidents in the life of a slave girl written by herself is the crowning achievement manifesting a command of rhetorical and narrative strategies rivaled only by that of frederick douglass jacobss autobiography is one of the major works of afro american literaturejacobss narrative is a bold and gripping fusion of two major literary forms she borrowed from the popular sentimental novel on one hand and the slave narrative genre on the . Incidents in the life of a slave girl written by herself with a true tale of slavery by john s jacobs the john harvard library band 119 amazonde yellin jean fagan jacobs harriet a jacobs john s bucher. Incidents in the life of a slave girl written by herself by harriet jacobs abridged and with commentary by james frieden teachwithmoviescom harriet jacobs was born into slavery in approximately 1813 in edenton a small town in north carolina she lived for 84 years and died in 1897 harriet jacobs slave narrative was first