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Twelve years a slave adaptations: books & films
Every version of Twelve years a slave — the books & films, compared across media.
Solomon Northup was a free Black man kidnapped in Washington, D.C. in 1841 and sold into bondage. His memoir Twelve Years a Slave put a name and a voice to that experience, documenting what happened to him in his own words. The story has since been brought to screen, reaching audiences across two different media and carrying his account beyond the page.
Twelve years a slave films
Twelve years a slave books
Frequently asked
Is 12 Years a Slave based on a book?
Yes. The 2013 film 12 Years a Slave is based on the 1855 memoir Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup, in which he documents his own kidnapping and years in bondage.
How many versions of Twelve Years a Slave are there?
There are two versions covered here: the original 1855 memoir by Solomon Northup and the 2013 film 12 Years a Slave, which adapts that memoir for cinema.
Should I read the book or watch the film first?
Both tell Solomon Northup's story. Twelve Years a Slave (1855) is Northup's own account in his own words; 12 Years a Slave (2013) translates that account into a dramatic film. Either works as an entry point.