Harriet ann jacobs 1813 1897 was an african american writer who was born into slavery but managed to gain her freedom she was a reformer and an abolitionist speaker in addition under the name linda brent she wrote incidents in the life of a slave girl one of the first autobiographies about living in slavery that narrative included her accounts of the sexual abuse female slaves suffered as well as the struggle for freedom. 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 authorjacobs used the pseudonym linda brent the book documents jacobss life as a slave and how she gained freedom for herself and for her children. 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 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 north incidents is emotional and the feelings are raw as you experience the tale of a slave who