Edited and with Notes by Shelly Eversley
Introduction by Robert Reid-Pharr
In this truly astonishing eighteenth-century memoir, Olaudah Equiano recounts his remarkable life story, which begins when he is kidnapped in Africa as a boy and sold into slavery and culminates when he has achieved renown as a British antislavery advocate. The narrative "is a strikingly beautiful monument to the startling combination of skill, cunning, and plain good luck that allowed him to win his freedom, write his story, and gain international prominence,” writes Robert Reid-Pharr in his Introduction. "He alerts us to the very concerns that trouble modern intellectuals, black, white, and otherwise, on both sides of the Atlantic.”
The text of this Modern Library Paperback Classic is set from the definitive ninth edition of 1794, reflecting the author's final changes to his masterwork.
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Sprache
Verlagsort
Produkt-Hinweis
Maße
Höhe: 203 mm
Breite: 132 mm
Dicke: 18 mm
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ISBN-13
978-0-375-76115-7 (9780375761157)
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Schweitzer Klassifikation
Olaudah Equiano, also known as Gustavus Vassa, was a writer and abolitionist whose autobiography became a crucial work in the fight against the transatlantic slave trade. According to his own account, he was born in the village of Essaka, in what is now southern Nigeria, and was kidnapped as a child before being sold into slavery. Transported across the Atlantic, he endured the brutal conditions of forced labor and was later sold to a Royal Navy officer. Throughout his years in bondage, he traveled extensively, gaining literacy and acquiring skills that would help him purchase his own freedom. After securing his emancipation, he became a prominent advocate for abolition, using his personal experiences to highlight the cruelty of slavery. His autobiography, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, was widely read and played a significant role in influencing British abolitionist efforts. He later married Susannah Cullen, with whom he had two daughters. Equiano's life was defined by resilience and advocacy, leaving a lasting impact on the movement to end slavery. His legacy continues to be recognized in discussions of human rights and historical narratives of the African diaspora.
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