In 1853, the book “12 Years a Slave” alarmed American society, becoming a harbinger of the Civil War. 160 years later, it inspired Steve McQueen and Brad Pitt to create a film masterpiece that received many awards and recognitions, including the 2014 Oscar for Best Film of the Year. As for Solomon Northup himself, for him the book became a confession about the darkest period of his life . A period when despair almost stifled the hope of breaking free from the chains of slavery and regaining the freedom and dignity that had been taken from him. The text for translation and illustrations are borrowed from the original 1855 edition. The translator has preserved the author's style, which demonstrates that Solomon Northup was not only an educated, but also a literary gifted person.