An African's Life: The Life and Times of Olaudah Equiano, 1745-1797Equiano's autobiography, first published in 1789, is probably the most quoted, reprinted and widely published writing by an African before the twentieth century. His words have been extracted and quoted, anthologized and interpreted in dozens of books and articles. More than any single contemporary, Equiano speaks for the fate of millions of Africans in the era of the transatlantic slave trade. Until now, however, no one has written a serious - or even a popular - biographical study of this remarkable man. Few critics doubt the importance of his writing; few historians would deny the significance of his life and times. Scholars have analysed his work from literary and historical angles, but no one has really studied the man himself. This is the first study which attempts to create a rounded portrait of the man behind the literary image, and to study Equiano in the context of Atlantic slavery. It is, at one and the same time, an original portrait of a remarkable African -- who spoke for millions -- and a study of the world of eighteenth-century Atlantic slavery. |
Contents
Africa Remembered | 3 |
Slave Ships and Landfall | 16 |
A Slave at Sea | 31 |
Copyright | |
11 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
abolition abolitionist African slaves Anthony Benezet arrived Atlantic slave trade autobiography Barbados began Bible black community black poor blacks in London Britain British campaign Caribbean Christian clearly coast commercial contemporary course crew Cugoano cultural debate Dr Irving earlier economic edition eighteenth century England English enslaved Equiano found Equiano's account Equiano's book Equiano's ship especially European experience free blacks freedom friends Granville Sharp Gustavus Vassa human Ibid Igbo Ignatius Sancho Indian slavery Interesting Narrative islands Jamaica James Walvin knew labour later literary master Montserrat negro Olaudah Equiano owner Pascal Paul Edwards persuaded Philadelphia planters promote published Quakers readers Robert King sailed sailors seemed settlement settlers Sierra Leone Sierra Leone scheme simply slave colonies slave ships slave-owners slavery social society sold St Eustatius story sugar thought throughout took vessel voyage West Africa West Indian West Indies