The Heroic Slave is written by well-known author, publisher, and civil-rights activist, Frederick Douglass. The novella is Douglass' only published work of fiction, although the story borrows from the 1841 slave revolt aboard the brig Creole.
The work first appeared in 1852 as part of the anthology Autographs for Freedom, published by John P. Jewett and Co., in Boston, for the Rochester Ladies' Anti Slavery Society.

This edition includes the full text of The Heroic Slave along with several documents to provide context for readers.