Pdf version of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, the african by olaudah equiano. But it is one of the first in a long tradition of memoirs by former slaves that. Published in 1789, equianos autobiography created a sensa tion. But it is one of the first in a long tradition of memoirs by former slaves that often agitate for the end of slavery through a personal story. Equiano written by equiano himself, the interesting narrative and other writings was published in 1789. The interesting narrative and other writings olaudah equianovincent carretta. Equiano was born in 1745 in a province of africa, called eboe. I remember, in the vessel in which i was brought over, in the mens apartment, there were several brothers, who, in the sale, were sold in different lots. I hanover historical texts project scanned and proofread by kathleen diekhoff, may 1998. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. In the mid 1750s when he was about eleven years old, olaudah equiano was captured with his sister by slave traders in presentday southeastern nigeria. The interesting narrative is africanborn olaudah equianos firsthand autobiographical account of his sea voyages around the west indies, the mediterranean, and elsewhere. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african. By 1814, the slave trade has been abolished in englandin great part thanks to equianos narrative, which has by now been published in a number of editions and languages.
Olaudah equiano, letter to james tobin, january 28, 1788. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano study guide contains a biography of olaudah equiano, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and ana. Olaudah equiano the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african london, 1789. Buy a cheap copy of the interesting narrative of the life of. When he was about ten years old, he was kidnapped by africans known as aros and sold into slavery. Equianos narrative is often considered the prototypical slave narrative, even though it doesnt perfectly fit into the structure of slavery, escape, and freedom that tends to encapsulate the form. The interesting narrative of the life of olauda equiano the narrative by olaudah equiano gives an interesting perspective of slavery both within and outside of africa in the eighteenth century. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african written by himself language. The life of olaudah equiano chapter i summary and analysis. The life of olaudah equiano study guide from litcharts. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano 17 terms. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano or gustavus vassa, the african. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano depicts an 18th century african society that has many similarities and also several differences to the modern day teachings of what african culture was like at that time period. The interesting narrative and other writings annotated.
According to olaudah equiano s narrative, he was a born in an eboe province presentday nigeria and was kidnapped and taken to england at a young age and subsequently forced into. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african 1789, ch. Biography of a self made man 2005, the life and letters of philip quaque the first african anglican missionary 2010. Many other people, though, tried to cast doubt on equianos character, arguing that he was born in the west indies, not in africa.
Jordan bryant in the interesting narrative and other writings of olaudah equiano, recounts much of his adventurous life for the reader. He is the editor of the penguin classics editions of the complete writings of phillis wheatley, letters of the late ignatius sancho, an african, and thoughts and sentiments on the evil of slavery and other. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you. The interesting narrative and other writings 1995, 2003. I will trust and not be afraid, for the lord jehovah is my strength and my song. Describing an intense journey of being captured, enslaved, and freed, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano or gustavas vassa, the african is a book, which provides firsthand details of the traumatic stronghold slavery held over those directly and indirectly affected by slavery. And in that shall ye say, praise the lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people. An exciting and often terrifying adventure story, as well as an important precursor to such famous nineteenthcentury slave narratives as frederick douglasss autobiographies, olaudah equianos the interesting narrative recounts his kidnapping in africa at the age of ten, his service as the slave of an officer in. Excerpt from the interesting narrative of the life of. His most recent books are the authoritative equiano, the african. The interesting narrative and other writings by equiano. It brought polite society face to face with the cruelties of slav ery and contributed to the banning of the slave trade in both the united states and england.
The book describes equianos time spent in enslavement, and documents his attempts at becoming an. Equiano is kidnapped into slavery at age eleven and fights for many years for his freedom. An exciting and often terrifying adventure story, as well as an important precursor to such famous nineteenthcentury slave narratives as frederick douglasss autobiographies, olaudah equiano s the interesting narrative recounts his kidnapping in africa at the age of ten, his service as the slave of an officer in. According to olaudah equianos narrative, he was a born in an eboe province presentday nigeria and was kidnapped and taken to england at a young age and subsequently forced into. Olaudah equiano 17451797 the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, written in 1789, is the autobiography of olaudah equiano. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano was a key work of nineteenthcentury slave narrative autobiography. Excerpt from olaudah equiano, the interesting narrative of the life of oludah equiano 1789. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano by olaudah. Aug 07, 2017 the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano by olaudah equiano is published by norton critical edition. Start studying the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Olaudah equiano describes national humanities center. Sep, 2016 the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african 1794 by olaudah equiano.
The white poole were cruel and he saw them kill other men and assumed he would be treated no differently. The interesting narrative and other writings olaudah. It is here that africans enslave their own countrymen and force or sell them into slavery. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano is olaudah equianos autobiography. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano is olaudah equiano s autobiography.
It includes a number of letters written to express himself as a person. Published in 1789, equiano s autobiography created a sensa tion. Olaudah equiano describes his homeland in west africa. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, first published in 1789 in london, is the autobiography of olaudah equiano.
Proofread and posted by raluca preotu, august 1999. Completely revised and edited with an introduction and notes by vincent carretta. Written and published by equiano, a former slave, it became a prototype for the narratives that followed. Completely revised and edited with an introduction and notes by vincent carretta an exciting and often terrifying adventure story, as well as an important precursor. Widely admired for its vivid accounts of the slave trade, olaudah equianos autobiography the first. Olaudah equiano writing styles in the interesting narrative and other writings olaudah equiano this study guide consists of approximately 30 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of. For the most part, the slaves were prisoners of war captured by.
The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano or gustavus vassa the african 1789 born in benin in the late 18th century, equiano was enslaved as a young boy and passed through a variety of experiences, many of them horrible. The book describes equiano s time spent in enslavement, and documents his attempts at becoming an. Many of you have read slave narratives before, and will want to consider equianos narrative in the context of other examples of this genre. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african 1794 by olaudah equiano. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the. Revised edition completely revised and edited with an introduction and notes by vincent carrettaan exciting and often terrifying adventure story, as well as an important precursor to such famous nineteenthcentury slave narratives as frederick douglasss autobiographies, olaudah equiano s the. In the following excerpt, equiano describes cross ing. Kidnapped in africa as a child, equiano was transported to the caribbean and then to virginia, bought by a quaker.
Olaudah equiano writing styles in the interesting narrative and other writings olaudah equiano this study guide consists of approximately 30 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the interesting narrative and other writings. Buy the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. That part of africa, known by the name of guinea, to which the trade for slaves is carried on, extends along the coast above 3400 miles, from the senegal to angola, and includes a variety of kingdoms. In olaudah equianos interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, written by himself 1789, we take on a new genre. The narrative is argued to represent a variety of styles, such as a slavery narrative, travel narrative, and spiritual narrative. Olaudah equiano 17451797 was a former slave who became an outspoken opponent of the slave trade. The interesting narrative and other writings summary. Essays and criticism on gustavas vassas the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african critical context. Some of the major points of contrast were found to exist in the marriage dowry, polygamy, and religion. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano study guide contains a biography of olaudah equiano, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or.
An exciting and often terrifying adventure story, as well as an important precursor to such famous nineteenthcentury slave narratives as frederick douglasss autobiographies, olaudah equiano s the interesting narrative recounts his kidnapping in africa at the age of ten, his service as the slave of an officer in the british navy, his ten years of labor on slave ships until he was able to purchase his freedom in 1766, and his life afterward as a leading and respected figure in the. Full text of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african. Carretta himself points out that even if the narrative is based on the oral accounts of other slaves, its descriptions still provide a valuable portrait of early african life and the middle passage. Equiano was first introduced to slavery in his native country of africa. Vincent carretta is professor of english at the university of maryland, college park. The interesting narrative of olaudah equiano was first published in 1789 by equiano himself and was funded through a subscriber method, which entails buyers purchasing the book before it was finished or published. Revised edition completely revised and edited with an introduction and notes by vincent carrettaan exciting and often terrifying adventure story, as well as an important precursor to such famous nineteenthcentury slave narratives as frederick douglasss autobiographies, olaudah equianos the. It discusses his time spent in slavery, serving primarily on galleys, documents his attempts at becoming an independent man through his study of the bible, and his eventual success in gaining his own freedom and in business thereafter. Olaudah equiano, letter to the committee for the abolition of the slave trade, february 7, 1789. An autobiography is a persons life story told from their own perspective. This page was last edited on september 2016, at 04.
His editions include the authoritative olaudah equiano. Proofread and pages added by jonathan perry, march 2001. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, written by himself. The interesting narrative and other writings by olaudah.