The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano
Dublin Core
Title
The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano
Contributor
Veronique Broussard
Source
Equiano, Olaudah. "The Interesting Narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano". Bedford Anthology of American Literature, Second ed., vol. 1, Bedford/ St. Martin's, 2014, pp. 512-536
Creator
Olaudah Equiano.
Publisher
Belasco, Susan, and Linck Johnson. Bedford Anthology of American Literature. Second ed., vol. 1, Bedford/ St. Martin's, 2014.
Date
December 30, 1799
Format
Print
Type
Autobiographical narrative
Subject
"The Interesting Narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano"
Description
Olaudah Equiano wrote his autobiographical accounts in the "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano" in 1789. This book was significant because it was one of the first autobiographical accounts written by a black person in the Anglo-American world. This autobiographical narrative was written by Equiano himself, which was important because he was previously a slave, a free black man who purchased his own freedom and very well educated. It creatively described the horrors of slavery and was well-written in such a way that his travels and accounts were interesting to many and the readers could experience second-hand his travels through his descriptions.
Equiano had experienced slavery first hand when he and his sister were kidnapped and sold to British slave traders. Equiano was transported from Barbados to Virginia as a slave, where he was purchased by a local planter and then sold to man named Pascal. It was during this time under the ownership of Pascal that Equiano was brought to England at the age of 12 in 1757.
Equiano was educated in London and learned to read, write and was even baptized and converted to Christianity. Equiano was promised the dream of freedom by Pascal but was sold again to a Quaker merchant named Robert King. It was through this experience Equiano was allowed to work on minor trade exchanges and save up enough money to purchase his own freedom. Equiano was able to purchase his freedom in 1766.
“The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano” was an influential and well received autobiographical narrative which helped support the abolitionist cause through literature and its influence on many European countries as well as America.
Equiano sought to expose the truths of slavery, and the conditions that the slaves were subjected to in his narrative through his vivid descriptions and explicit accounts. Equiano's accounts in his narrative communicated and represented what over 1 million Africans had experienced as slaves.
In his autobiographical narrative, Equiano claims to have been born in the African village of Ibo, which has been called into question since elsewhere it is documented that he was born in South Carolina in 1745. Equiano’s claim to being born in Africa helped strengthen his accounts and his narrative.
It is seen as one of the earliest slave narratives which also describe accounts of various places Equiano traveled to, as well as detailed descriptions of slavery, the "Middle Passage" and the journey across the Atlantic Ocean of slaves to America.
Equiano traveled to many places and in this process helped to promote his book which became widely popular. "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano" was published by subscription and was very successful in England, Ireland and the United States. It was even seen as an international best seller and many subscribers included high ranking people such as the Prince of Wales.
Equiano’s book which became immensely popular, helped the abolitionist cause and was seen as an influential piece of literature. Much of Equiano's later life was devoted to ending slavery/slave trade and his autobiographical narrative was one of his earlier writings that supported his stance on the abolition of slavery.
Equiano had experienced slavery first hand when he and his sister were kidnapped and sold to British slave traders. Equiano was transported from Barbados to Virginia as a slave, where he was purchased by a local planter and then sold to man named Pascal. It was during this time under the ownership of Pascal that Equiano was brought to England at the age of 12 in 1757.
Equiano was educated in London and learned to read, write and was even baptized and converted to Christianity. Equiano was promised the dream of freedom by Pascal but was sold again to a Quaker merchant named Robert King. It was through this experience Equiano was allowed to work on minor trade exchanges and save up enough money to purchase his own freedom. Equiano was able to purchase his freedom in 1766.
“The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano” was an influential and well received autobiographical narrative which helped support the abolitionist cause through literature and its influence on many European countries as well as America.
Equiano sought to expose the truths of slavery, and the conditions that the slaves were subjected to in his narrative through his vivid descriptions and explicit accounts. Equiano's accounts in his narrative communicated and represented what over 1 million Africans had experienced as slaves.
In his autobiographical narrative, Equiano claims to have been born in the African village of Ibo, which has been called into question since elsewhere it is documented that he was born in South Carolina in 1745. Equiano’s claim to being born in Africa helped strengthen his accounts and his narrative.
It is seen as one of the earliest slave narratives which also describe accounts of various places Equiano traveled to, as well as detailed descriptions of slavery, the "Middle Passage" and the journey across the Atlantic Ocean of slaves to America.
Equiano traveled to many places and in this process helped to promote his book which became widely popular. "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano" was published by subscription and was very successful in England, Ireland and the United States. It was even seen as an international best seller and many subscribers included high ranking people such as the Prince of Wales.
Equiano’s book which became immensely popular, helped the abolitionist cause and was seen as an influential piece of literature. Much of Equiano's later life was devoted to ending slavery/slave trade and his autobiographical narrative was one of his earlier writings that supported his stance on the abolition of slavery.
Coverage
An Autobiographical narrative that describes his life, travels and experiences from 1745-1789
Language
English
Identifier
The Interesting Narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano 1789
Relation
Portrait of Olaudah Equiano
The Interesting Narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano
Rights
Image available on the Internet and included in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107.
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