Douglass, Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass

The Preface to the Narrative was written by William Lloyd Garrison, the famous abolitionist, on May 1st, 1845 in Boston, Massachusetts. He opened by explaining that he had met Douglass for the first time at an anti-slavery convention in August, 1841. Most people, including Garrison, did not know who he was but were prepared to hear some words from an actual former slave.