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. Equianos greatest legacy is his classic 1789 autobiography, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african. Equiano s autobiography helped in the creation of the slave trade act 1807 which ended the african slave trade for britain and its colonies. The highpoint in equianos life came with the publication of his autobiography, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano.
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. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. The interesting narrative olaudah equianos epic book tour for his bestselling firsthand account of slavery changed the british abolitionist movement. The narrative is argued to be a variety of styles, such as a slavery narrative, travel narrative, and spiritual narrative. The life of olaudah equiano characters from litcharts. Equiano purchased his freedom in 1766 and became active in the british antislavery movement. The slave trades evils and barbarities give it a kind of human agency, especially since equiano argues that it is slavery itself that. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Editor joanna brooks and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Olaudah equianos most popular book is the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equ. Though he spent a brief period in the state of virginia, much of equianos time in slavery was spent serving the captains of slave ships and british navy vessels. The book describes equiano s time spent in enslavement, and documents his attempts at becoming an. Published in 1789, equianos autobiography was the first of its kind to influence a wide audience. The narrator and protagonist of the book, equiano was born in modernday nigeria, where he was kidnapped at the age of eleven before being transported to the coast and sold into slavery.
Gutenberg ebook of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. The life of olaudah equiano study guide from litcharts the. Aged 11, he was kidnapped, along with sisters, by native slaveholders. Equianos autobiography helped in the creation of the slave trade act 1807 which ended the african slave trade for britain and its colonies.
His father was an embrenche, an elder or chief, and oversaw disputes and punishments. Olaudah equiano 17451797 was a former slave who became an outspoken opponent of the slave trade. Summary of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah. About equiano olaudah equiano rose to prominence in the late 18th century as the leading black campaigner for the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. Vincent carretta is professor of english at the university of maryland, college park. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano by. Read palgrave macmillans description of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. Pdf the life of olaudah equiano ebooks includes pdf.
Equianos work became an important part of the abolitionist cause, because he was able to portray. Olaudah equiano biography childhood, life achievements. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in the life of olaudah equiano, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Summary of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. Sep 25, 2003 discover book depositorys huge selection of olaudah equiano books online. In an attempt to preserve, improve and recreate the original content, we have worked towards. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano.
The slave trade in general is the vast, inhuman antagonist against which equiano struggles throughout the bookindeed, it is the slave trade against which equiano writes the narrative itself. Born in eboe, africa, what is now nigeria, he begins by describing life in eboe and illustrates the cultural, religious, and moral aspects of african life as he knew and understood them. Olaudah equiano writes that he was born in nigeria in the year 1745 a member of the igbo tribe. The ability of this cultured and intelligent man to relate firsthand the horrors. An illustrated biography almost everything we know about the first ten years of equiano s life we find from equiano s own account in the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, published in 1789. An illustrated biography almost everything we know about the first ten years of equianos life we find from equianos own account in the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, published in 1789. A compelling account that has gripped and fascinated readers since its original london publication in 1789, the narrative describes equiano s formidable journey from captivity to freedom and literacy.
Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the free ebook project gutenberg. He eventually accummulated enough money to free and educate himself, and make his way thru the world as a free man. Unabridged english value reproduction of the life of olaudah equiano. Olaudah equiano books list of books by author olaudah. Olaudah equiano has 82 books on goodreads with 33242 ratings. Books by olaudah equiano author of the interesting. The life of olaudah equiano quotes and analysis gradesaver. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano kindle edition by equiano, olaudah. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano or gustavus vassa, the african. He told the story of his life and suffering as a slave. In this, equiano tells us that he was born around the year 1745 in an area called eboe.
He was born some time around the year 1745 in the kingdom of benin, an area found in presentday nigeria. Jan 05, 2011 olaudah equiano created a record of the 18th century slave trade through his firsthand knowledge and experiences and the writing of this book. I will trust and not be afraid, for the lord jehovah is my strength and my song. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or. He describes scenes of outrageous torture and made it clear to his readers how the institution of slavery dehumanized both owner and slave. Enslaved as a child, he was taken to the caribbean and sold as a slave to a royal navy officer. Jan 01, 2009 published in 1789, equiano s autobiography was the first of its kind to influence a wide audience. He continues that he was the youngest son, and thus his mother. Discover book depositorys huge selection of olaudah equiano books online. Citation the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah. Jan 21, 2017 unabridged english value reproduction of the life of olaudah equiano. When he was about eleven, equiano was kidnapped and sold to slave traders headed to the west indies. He eventually accummulated enough money to free and educate himself, and make his way thru the. Olaudah equiano books list of books by author olaudah equiano.
The narrative is argued to represent a variety of styles, such as a slavery narrative, travel narrative, and spiritual narrative. About the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. Olaudah equianos 272nd birthday born in nigeria, african writer and abolitionist olaudah equiano was sold into slavery as a boy. Olaudah equiano, letter to james tobin, january 28, 1788. 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. The life of olaudah equiano by olaudah equiano books on. Olaudah equiano created a record of the 18th century slave trade through his firsthand knowledge and experiences and the writing of this book. With linked table of contents jun 10, 2015 by olaudah equiano kindle edition. Olaudah equiano was born in 1745 in eboe, in what is now nigeria. Equiano asks to be excused for laying out in such detail the customs of his native country. No 79 the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano by.
Mar 17, 2005 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african. He was sent to barbados, then to colonial virginia, and then sold to a british naval officer. This classic is a must read because olaudah writes as if the reader is right there with him, relating his story, feeling his success and his pains. The book describes equiano s time spent in slavery, and documents his attempts at becoming an independent man through his study of the bible, and his eventual conversion to christianity. Pdf the life of olaudah equiano ebooks includes pdf, epub. The first slave narrative, it gave a personal account of equianos enslaved life. A key document of the early movement to ban the slave trade, it includes the earliest known firsthand description by a slave of the horrific middle passage from africa to the americas. The life of olaudah equiano study guide from litcharts. Equiano travelled widely to promote the book, and became wealthy from its royalties. The trials of british romanticism, which studies the relation between political suppression and. The trials of british romanticism, which studies the. The author, olaudah equiano, was born in nigeria and captured as a child and sold of to slavery in the new world. And in that shall ye say, praise the lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people.
The book gave a detailed explanation of the pitiable state of. The book gave a detailed explanation of the pitiable state of slaves and the inhumaneness faced by them. 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, written by himself v1. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, written by himself. Olaudah equiano s interesting narrative, in which the author describes his birth in africa, his enslavement and transportation to america, and his journey from slavery to freedom, was published just a few days before the british parliament first debated the abolition of the slave trade in 1789. The interesting life of olaudah equiano or gustavus vassa, the african, first published in 1789, is the autobiography of olaudah equiano. 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. In 1789, a middleaged africanborn man in london published the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, laying the foundations for new. The life of olaudah equiano ebook written by olaudah equiano. It is the engrossing story in living detail of an igbo prince, his enslavement, and freedom.
The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the life of olaudah equiano. His book the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano or gustavus vassa, the african was one of the earliest firsthand accounts of life in africa, the horrors of the. No 79 the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano by olaudah equiano 1789. Summary of the interesting narrative of the life of. Equianos account of his birth and early life, and how he and his sister were kidnapped and enslaved. Olaudah equiano, letter to the committee for the abolition of the slave trade, february 7, 1789. In this, equiano tells us that he was born around the year 1745 in an area called eboe in guinea. Equiano was born in essaka, a small village in benin, in 1745. He was sold twice more but purchased his freedom in 1766.
Jul 16, 20 the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, written by himself audiobook by olaudah equiano 17451797. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or, gustavus vassa, the african. Equiano published his autobiography, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, in 1789 as a twovolume work. He braved the harsh conditions of the middle passage to the. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavas vassa, the african. The life of olaudah equiano quotes and analysis buy study guide this produced copious perspirations, so that the air soon became unfit for respiration, from a variety of loathsome smells, and brought on a sickness among the slaves, of which many died, thus falling victims to the improvident avarice, as i may call it, of their purchasers. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. His 1789 autobiography was immensely popular, and he is considered the originator of the slave narrative, although there is controversy regarding his birth. He was a part of the ibos in essaka which is in benin. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, written by himself audiobook by olaudah equiano 17451797. A compelling account that has gripped and fascinated readers since its original london publication in 1789, the narrative describes equianos formidable journey from captivity to freedom and literacy. This book just puts me in awe of his situation olauduah was only a child when he was taken away from his.
Mar 27, 2020 olaudah equiano, selfproclaimed west african sold into slavery and later freed. Olaudah equiano quotes author of the interesting narrative. His autobiography, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. Despite these slights, i recommend the life of olaudah equiano, equiano tells an exciting tale. 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. Books by olaudah equiano author of the interesting narrative. Equiano selfpublished his narrative, funded by subscribers who ordered copies of the book in advance of its publication. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah this book is a result of an effort made by us towards making a contribution to the preservation and repair of original classic literature. The question and answer section for the life of olaudah equiano is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Mar 12, 2012 the life of olaudah equiano ebook written by olaudah equiano. Olaudah equiano s most popular book is the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equ. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, written in 1789, is the autobiography of olaudah equiano.
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