In short, equianos second main motivation for writing his narrative is also another rhctorical aim. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african relates equiano s autobiographical life story and was one of the first slave narratives published. Narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, free ebook. The project gutenberg ebook of the interesting narrative of the life. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, written in 1789, details its writers life in slavery, his time spent serving on galleys, the eventual attainment of his own freedom and later success in business. When he is brought to the coast and sees the slave ship, equiano s first thought is that he will be. Equiano purchased his freedom in 1766 and became active in the british antislavery movement. He was enslaved as a young man, purchased his freedom, and worked as an author, merchant, and explorer in south america, the caribbean, the arctic, the american colonies, and the united kingdom. Or gustavus vassa, the african written by himself author. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african written by himself behold, god is my salvation.
Understanding gustavus vassa, or olaudah equiano, was the first successful professional author of african descent in the englishspeaking world. In it, he describes his experience being captured, sold into slavery, and eventually buying his own freedom. About the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african. He was born in the eboe province of africa, and provides cultural detail on those people. Despite the controversy regarding his birth, his book remains an essential work both for its picture of 18thcentury africa as a model of social harmony defiled by western greed and for its eloquent argument. I hope the reader will not think i have trespassed on his patience in. Pdf, epub, kindle ebook of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa. Olaudah equianos argument against slavery was his life. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african ebook pdf, epub, mobi, prc about the author olaudah equiano c. They were suffocated, sickness amongst them, the stench of the necessary tubs. The interesting narrative 1789 is the autobiography of olaudah equiano.
If then the following narrative does not appear sufficiently interesting to. The shrieks of the woman and the groans of the dying. Slave narratives comprise one of the most influential traditions in american literature, shaping the form and themes of some of the most celebrated and controversial writing, both in fiction and in autobiography, in the history of the. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african by olaudah vassa, 1794.
Equiano, olaudah the interesting narrative of the life of. Olaudah equiano s views ofslavery in his narrative ofthe life by carie dias corie dias is a senior english majorfrom pembroke, ma. 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. Equiano s autobiography helped in the creation of the slave trade act 1807 which ended the african slave trade for britain and its colonies. Middle passage national museum of american history. And in that shall ye say, praise the lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people. This is an account by a prominent african abolitionist home categories recent authors lists series collections donate about contact f. He was sent to barbados, then to colonial virginia, and then sold to a british naval officer.
The life of olaudah equiano is one of the earliestknown examples of published writing by an african writer and the first influential slave narrative of what became a large literary genre. His interesting narrative is a spiritual autobiography, captivity narrative, travel book, adventure tale, slavery narrative. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Olaudah equianos views of slavery in his narrative of the life.
Olaudah equiano was one of the most prominent people of african heritage involved in the british debate for the abolition of the slave trade. Adultery, however, was sometimes punished with slavery or death. Edited and with notes by shelly eversley introduction by robert reidpharr in this truly astonishing eighteenthcentury 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. Harriet jacobs, frederick douglass and olaudah equiano 1985 words 8 pages. I will trust and not be afraid, for the lord jehovah is my strength and my song. This welcome edition, ably edited by angelo costanzo, provides readers of today a generous introduction to equiano s life and. The narrative is argued to represent a variety of styles, such as a slavery narrative, travel narrative, and spiritual narrative. The first american edition of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa. Two of the most important slave narratives to surface are.
Olaudah equiano wrote an account of the middle passage in his 1789 autobiography. Slave narrative, an account of the life, or a major portion of the life, of a fugitive or former slave, either written or orally related by the slave personally. Equiano begins his firstperson narrative by including several letters that attest to both the veracity of his text and his good character. It was the first slave autobiography and one of the earliest publication by an african. Summary of the interesting narrative of the life of. What makes olaudah equiano s account unique is that is was the first slave narrative to find a wide audience, and it is not hard to understand why not only is it a good story, but it is very well written, almost literary it sold so well it was a cornerstone in bringing about public sympathy and support for the abolition of the slavery in. Olaudah equianos views of slavery in his narrative of. Widely admired for its vivid accounts of the slave trade, olaudah equiano s autobiography the first slave narrative to attract a significant readership reveals many aspects of the eighteenthcentury.
Introduction introduction slaves approximately fiftythree thousand. Throughout his narrative, equiano has noted internal differences within the slave trade, even as hes sought to insist that conditions of enslavement are degrading throughout the world. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african. Narrative of the life of olaudah equiano the two texts that are very famous for their representation of the early black literature and that have now become a part of the english literature course in many universities are the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano also known as gustavus vassa, the africe, written by himself published in the year 1794 and. Olaudah equiano literary analysis and reading strategy. Leader vincent carretta professor of english, university of maryland national humanities center fellow about the seminar.
Olaudah equiano was born in 1745 in eboe, in what is now nigeria. Literacy and the humanizing project in olaudah equianos the. Olaudah equiano died on the 31st march 1797, ten years prior to the act for the abolition of the slave trade, which was passed in 1807. Pdf the life of olaudah equiano ebooks includes pdf. The book describes equiano s time spent in enslavement, and documents his attempts at becoming an.
Equiano sets up the purpose of his narrative as an opposition to this prejudice. Despite the controversy regarding his birth, his book remains an essential work both for its picture of 18thcentury africa as a model of social harmony defiled by western greed and for its eloquent argument against the barbarous slave trade. Meet the author soldier, sailor, north pole explorer olaudah equiano led a remarkable life by the standards of any. Pdf the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah. While young children, he and his sister were seized by kidnappers and sold to.
Olaudah equiano sthe interesting narrative ofthe life ofolaudah equiano, or. Enslaved as a child, he was taken to the caribbean and sold as a slave to a royal navy officer. She has also workedon a writing concentration anda minor in art. Pdf the life of olaudah equiano download ebook for free. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano partiality and attention, and in return i grew extremely fond of him. Equiano describes the experiences of his life and the time spent in slavery. Equiano s account of the middle passage is an early example of a slave narrative. Olaudah equiano s firstperson account recalls his terrifying journey as an 11yearold captive aboard a slave ship from africa to barbados in 1756.
Written by himself as one of the most accomplished english. African, written by himselftells the story of a young man who was captured and put into slavery at the age of. An american literary genre, a slave narrative is an autobiographical account of life as a slave. It narrates his kidnapping in africa and his service in the british navy as the slave of an officer.
The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, written by himself norton critical editions by olaudah equiano 20010503 tells the story of olaudah equiano in africa and as a captured slave seaman and eventually as a free person in the caaribbean and england. Corie wrote this paperfor ann brunjessearly american literature class. Olaudah equianos the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah. With linked table of contents kindle edition by equiano, olaudah. What makes olaudah equianos account unique is that is was the first slave narrative to find a wide audience, and it is not hard to understand why not only is it a good story, but it is very well written, almost literary it sold so well it was a cornerstone in bringing about public sympathy and support for the abolition of the slavery in england. Equiano is often regarded as the originator of the slave narrative because of his firsthand literary testimony against the slave trade. When he was about eleven, equiano was kidnapped and sold to slave traders headed to the west indies. The book the classic slave narratives is a collection of narratives that includes the historical enslavement experiences in the lives of the former slaves harriet jacobs, frederick douglass, and olaudah equiano. Over the past thirtyfive years, historians, literary critics, and the general public have come to recognize the author of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african. That part of africa, known by the name of guinea, to which the trade for slaves is. A resident of london during the 1780s, equiano became involved in british abolitionism and was a vocal opponent of the slave trade and slavery until his death in 1797. Though he spent a brief period in the state of virginia, much of equiano s time in slavery was spent serving the captains of slave ships and british navy vessels. Sometimes equiano emphasizes the importance of universal abolition, and at other. The striking thing about equiano s narrative is that, in many ways, it reads as a bestcasescenario of what life as a slave could be like.
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