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"Twenty-Two Years a Slave, and Forty Years a Freeman" is a slave narrative, detailing Austin Steward's early life of enslavement and escape, as well as his years of freedom and work at Wilber force Colony.

Austin Steward (1793 – 1869) was an African-American abolitionist and author. He was born a slave and escaped from Virginia at about age 21, settling in Rochester, New York, and then Canada.

Contents:

Slave Life on the Plantation

At the Great House

Horse-racing and Its Consequences

Journey to Our New Home in New York

Incidents at Sodus Bay

Removal From Sodus to Bath

Dueling

Horse-racing and General Training

Death Bed and Bridal Scenes

Hired Out to a New Master

Thoughts on Freedom

Capt. Helm — Divorce — Kidnapping

Locate in the Village of Rochester

Incidents in Rochester and Vicinity

Sad Reverses of Capt. Helm

British Emancipation of Slavery

Oration — Termination of Slavery

Condition of Free Colored People

Persecution of the Colored People

Removal to Canada

Roughing It in the Wilds of Canada

Narrow Escape of a Smuggler

Narrative of Two Fugitives From Virginia

Pleasant Re-union of Old and Tried Friends

Private Losses and Private Difficulties

Incidents and Peculiarities of the Indians

Our Difficulties With Israel Lewis

Desperation of a Fugitive Slave

A Narrow Escape From My Enemies

Death of B. Paul, and Return of His Brother

My Family Return to Rochester

The Land Agent and the Squatter

Character and Death of I. Lewis

My Return to Rochester

Bishop Brown — Death of My Daughter

Celebration of the First of August

Correspondence Letter From A. Steward to Wm. L. Garrison