... noted positions as a reformer and orator made him the leading voice of African Americans during the 1800's. The first published African American fiction came along during the mid 1800's by William Wells Brown. Brown, an escaped slave, wrote such novels as Clotel (the first published novel by an African American) and The Presidents Daughter (1853) along with a play, travelogue, and a compilation of anti-slavery songs ... . All of these works by Brown gave his the reputation as the most prolific literary figure of the mid-19th century. Wells continued to write and lecture throughout his lif...

• Word Count: 2200
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: Undergraduate