The Inspiring Story of Amos Fortune: From African Prince to American Tanner
Amos Fortune, Free Man is a captivating biographical novel by Elizabeth Yates that won the Newbery Medal in 1951. The story follows the remarkable life of Amos Fortune, born At-mun in Africa, who is captured as a teenager and sold into slavery in America. Despite the hardships he faces, Amos perseveres, earns his freedom, and becomes a respected tanner and philanthropist in colonial New Hampshire.
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Summary
The novel opens in 1725 in the village of the At-mun-shi tribe in Africa, where 15-year-old Prince At-mun lives with his family. At-mun is the son of the tribal chief and is being trained to one day lead his people. However, his peaceful life is shattered when his village is raided by slavers. During the chaos, At-mun is captured and forcibly taken from his homeland. He is transported across the ocean to America and sold at auction in Boston to a kind Quaker tanner named Caleb Copeland.
Copeland renames the young African Amos and takes him under his wing, teaching him the tanning trade. Amos proves to be a quick learner and a hard worker. When Copeland dies several years later, Amos is sold again, this time to Ichabod Richardson, another Quaker tanner. Richardson recognizes Amos’ potential and continues his training, eventually allowing him to earn wages and save money. At the age of 60, Amos has earned enough to purchase his freedom from Richardson.
Amos marries three times during his life – to Lily, Lydia, and Violet – and works tirelessly to earn enough to buy the freedom of each woman. Tragically, Lily and Lydia die shortly after being freed from slavery. With his third wife Violet and her young daughter Celyndia, Amos moves to the town of Jaffrey, New Hampshire in 1778 to start his own tanning business. He faces opposition from some of the townspeople who are wary of a former slave becoming a successful entrepreneur. However, Amos perseveres and eventually prospers, becoming a respected member of the community.
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Main Characters
- Amos Fortune (At-mun) – The protagonist, born a prince in Africa who is captured and sold into slavery in America. Through hard work, perseverance, and determination, he earns his freedom and that of his wives. He becomes a successful businessman and philanthropist.
- Lily, Lydia, Violet – Amos’ three wives, all of whom he purchases out of slavery. Lily and Lydia tragically die shortly after being freed, while Violet lives with Amos in Jaffrey and supports his business ventures.
- Caleb Copeland, Ichabod Richardson – Kind Quaker masters who own Amos at different times. They recognize Amos’ intelligence and work ethic and train him in the tanning trade, intending to eventually free him. However, Amos must ultimately purchase his own freedom through his earnings.
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Key Events and Plots
- Amos’ capture and enslavement – As a 15-year-old prince in Africa, At-mun is kidnapped from his village during a raid and sold into slavery. He is transported to America and auctioned off to a Quaker tanner in Boston.
- Learning the tanning trade – Amos masters the complex process of tanning hides and turning them into leather while working for Copeland and Richardson. This skill allows him to earn money for his eventual freedom.
- Purchasing his own freedom – At the age of 60, after years of hard work and saving, Amos earns enough money to buy his freedom from his final master, Ichabod Richardson.
- Marrying and freeing his wives – Amos works tirelessly to earn enough money to purchase the freedom of each of his three wives, Lily, Lydia, and Violet. However, the first two die shortly after being freed from slavery.
- Moving to Jaffrey and starting a business – In 1778, Amos moves his family to the town of Jaffrey, New Hampshire and establishes a successful tanning business. He faces opposition from some townspeople who are skeptical of a former slave becoming a prosperous entrepreneur.
- Helping the less fortunate – In his later years, Amos donates much of his wealth to the local school and church. He also purchases the freedom of a poor local girl named Polly Burdoo, causing some conflict with his wife Violet.
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Suspense and Conclusion
The novel builds suspense around whether Amos will ever be able to earn enough money to purchase his own freedom, let alone that of his wives. Readers wonder if he will be able to overcome the obstacles of being sold to new masters and losing his first two wives at young ages. The story also creates tension around Amos’ decision to help the impoverished Burdoo family, which causes some conflict with his wife Violet.
In the end, Amos lives a long, fulfilling life, becoming a respected businessman and philanthropist in his adopted town of Jaffrey. He dies at the age of 91 in 1801, having accomplished his goals of freedom and helping others in need. The novel concludes with Amos reflecting on his life’s work, having “lived the life he had dreamed of” as a young prince in Africa. He leaves behind a legacy of perseverance, generosity, and the power of the human spirit to overcome even the most daunting of circumstances.
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Amos Fortune, Free Man book by Elizabeth Yates (thriftbooks.com)
