You may copy it, give it away or reuse it under the terms of the project gutenberg license included with this ebook or online at. An exciting and often terrifying adventure story, as well as an important precursor to such famous nineteenthcentury slave narratives as frederick douglasss autobiographies, olaudah equiano s the interesting narrative recounts his kidnapping in africa at the age of ten, his service as the slave of an officer in. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or. Olaudah equiano olaudah equiano we are almost a nation of dancers, musicians, and poets. An exciting and often terrifying adventure story, as well as an important precursor to such famous nineteenthcentury slave narratives as frederick douglasss autobiographies, olaudah equianos the interesting narrative recounts his kidnapping in africa at the age of ten, his service as the slave. It went through one american and eight british editions during his lifetime. I wanted to know about olaudah equiano after seeing the film amazing grace. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, written by himself. Equiano thus makes a case for the vibrant cultural life of african peoples, which europeans at the time tended to belittle. Revised edition penguin classics kindle edition by equiano, olaudah, carretta, vincent.
This chapter, and its treatise on the iboe people a more common denotation for this tribe, is most assuredly indebted to 18th century. But it is one of the first in a long tradition of memoirs by former slaves that often agitate for the end of slavery through a personal story. Check out other translated books in french, spanish. Pdf the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah. I hanover historical texts project scanned and proofread by kathleen diekhoff, may 1998. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african. The interesting narrative and other writings 1995, 2003. This enabled him to become a british citizen and he began writing about his experiences. Olaudah equiano, letter to the committee for the abolition of the slave trade, february 7, 1789. Vincent carretta is professor of english at the university of maryland, college park. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, is a personal autobiography of himself, olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, documenting the hardships of slavery throughout his lifetime. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on litcharts. Every great event, such as a triumphant return from battle, or other cause of public rejoicing, is celebrated in public dances, which are accompanied with songs and music suited to the occasion. Describing an intense journey of being captured, enslaved, and freed, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano or gustavas vassa, the african is a book, which provides firsthand details of the traumatic stronghold slavery held over those directly and indirectly affected by slavery.
The interesting narrative and other writings annotated by. 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. Summary of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. Full text online at documenting the american south. 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. Equiano s narrative is often considered the prototypical slave narrative, even though it doesnt perfectly fit into the structure of slavery, escape, and freedom that tends to encapsulate the form. The project gutenberg ebook of the interesting narrative of the life. One of the most salient aspects towards understanding the narrative is the fact that equiano was probably not born in africa, and thus much of his account was fictional and based on the writings of europeans. Completely revised and edited with an introduction and notes by vincent carretta an exciting and often terrifying adventure story, as well as an important precursor to such famous nineteenthcentury slave narratives as frederick douglasss autobiographies, olaudah equianos the interesting narrative recounts his. The interesting narrative and other writings, by olaudah equiano.
He also accompanied irving in 1773 on a polar expedition in search of a northeast passage from europe to asia. Buy the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. Completely revised and edited with an introduction and notes by vincent carretta an exciting and often terrifying adventure story, as well as an important precursor to such famous nineteenthcentury slave narratives as frederick douglasss autobiographies, olaudah equianos the interesting narrative recounts his kidnapping in africa at. Summary of the interesting narrative of the life of.
The life of olaudah equiano chapter i summary and analysis. Marks, notations and other marginalia present in the original volume will appear in this file a reminder of this books long journey from the publisher to a library. The interesting narrative and other writings olaudah. Written by himself the frontispieces and title pages of the first london 1789 and new york 1791 editions list of subscribers to the first edition list of subscribers to the new york edition correspondence and other writings of gustavus vassa, or olaudah equiano, not published in. Wheeler, discovering the american past and equiano, narrative depiction of race in. Revised edition completely revised and edited with an introduction and notes by vincent carrettaan exciting and often terrifying adventure story, as well as an important precursor to such famous nineteenthcentury slave narratives as frederick douglasss autobiographies, olaudah equiano s the. Equiano begins his narrative by acknowledging how memoir writers often must defend themselves against claims of vanity.
Equianos narrative is often considered the prototypical slave narrative, even though it doesnt perfectly fit into the structure of slavery, escape, and freedom that tends to encapsulate the form. The life of olaudah equiano themes from litcharts the. It is the soberly written but amazing account of his life, first as an african slave in the west indies, then later on as a welltravelled freeman who became an outspoken opponent of slavery, a public speaker and a writer. Download the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. The interesting narrative and other writings summary.
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. The life of olaudah equiano study guide from litcharts. The narrative is argued to represent a variety of styles, such as a slavery narrative, travel narrative, and spiritual narrative. Instant downloads of all 1296 litchart pdfs including the life of olaudah equiano. Equiano apologizes that he is neither a saint, a hero, nor a tyrant. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african written by himself author. I feel the term african is suitable and less controversial than using the phrase the negro. His editions include the authoritative olaudah equiano. Entitled the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african 1789, the book went through nine editions in his lifetime. Pdf history, oratory, and god in equianos interesting narrative. But, eventually one of his master gave him his freedom. Olaudah equiano 17451797 was a former slave who became an outspoken opponent of the slave trade. Literacy and the humanizing project in olaudah equianos the.
Proofread and posted by raluca preotu, august 1999. If then the following narrative does not appear sufficiently interesting to. Olaudah equiano writing styles in the interesting narrative and other writings olaudah equiano this study guide consists of approximately 30 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the interesting narrative and other writings. Further, people expect memoirs to have dramatic events and great personages if they are to be interesting. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano study guide contains a biography of olaudah equiano, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and ana. Proofread and pages added by jonathan perry, march 2001. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african written by himself language. And in that shall ye say, praise the lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the. Their complexions, too, differing so much from ours, their long hair, and the language they spoke which was very different from any i had ever heard, united to. Widely admired for its vivid accounts of the slave trade, olaudah equianos autobiography the first.
The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano by olaudah. Revised edition completely revised and edited with an introduction and notes by vincent carrettaan exciting and often terrifying adventure story, as well as an important precursor to such famous nineteenthcentury slave narratives as frederick douglasss autobiographies, olaudah equianos the. I remember, in the vessel in which i was brought over, in the mens apartment, there were several brothers, who, in the sale, were sold in different lots. Equiano published his autobiography, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, in 1789 as a twovolume work. His most recent books are the authoritative equiano, the african. I will trust and not be afraid, for the lord jehovah is my strength and my song. The project gutenberg ebook of the interesting narrative.
The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african is considered the first major slave autobiography in english literature. Biography of a self made man 2005, the life and letters of philip quaque the first african anglican missionary 2010. Describing an intense journey of being captured, enslaved, and freed, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano or gustavas vassa, the african is a book, which provides firsthand details of the traumatic stronghold slavery held over. 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. I use equiano as an introduction to american slave narrative literature and demonstrate the important influence of autobiographical form and style on the whole range of africanamerican literature up to the present day, including its impact on such writers as. Excerpt from the interesting narrative of the life of. The project gutenberg ebook of the interesting narrative of. Olaudah equianos argument against slavery was his life. The interesting narrative and other writings by olaudah.
Completely revised and edited with an introduction and notes by vincent carretta an exciting and often terrifying adventure story, as well as an important precursor to such famous nineteenthcentury slave narratives as frederick douglasss autobiographies, olaudah equiano s the interesting narrative recounts his kidnapping in africa at the age of ten, his service as the slave of an officer in. From an early age, olaudah equiano experienced the horrors of slavery first hand. The trials of british romanticism, which studies the relation between political suppression and. Olaudah equiano the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african london, 1789.
Excerpts from the interesting narrative of olaudah equiano. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The interesting narrative and other writings olaudah equianovincent carretta. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Pdf version of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, the african by olaudah equiano. The life of olaudah equiano study guide from litcharts the. Teach your students to analyze literature like litcharts does.
In 1773 he accompanied irving on a polar expedition in search of a northeast passage from europe to asia. Excerpt from olaudah equiano, the interesting narrative of the life of oludah equiano 1789. The interesting narrative and other writings by olaudah equiano, 9780142437162, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook. Published a few days before the british parliament first debated the abolition of the slave trade in 1789, olaudah equianos interesting narrative gives the authors account of his enslavement after his childhood kidnapping in africa, and his journey from slavery to freedom. 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. Excerpt from the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah. Olaudah equianos the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah esharp issue 10. To call olaudah equiano s autobiography an interesting narrative is an understatement. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the interesting narrative and other writings. Edited with and introduction and notes by vincent carretta. About the interesting narrative and other writings. Pdf increasingly, college students are coming into contact with at least parts of the.
I remember a man was brought before my father, and the other judges, for kidnapping a boy. I remember a man was brought before my father, and the other judges, for. Olaudah equiano, letter to james tobin, january 28, 1788. Olaudah equiano 1745 1797 was an 18thcentury african writer and antislavery campaigner. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african questions and answers discover the community of. Olaudah equiano quotes author of the interesting narrative. Equiano writes one of the best primary sources from a slaves perspective and masters perspective during slavery. In telling the story of his life from his childhood to the present day, olaudah equiano seeks to acquaint his british readers with the richness of life in his african home by detailing the dances, rites, and other social customs of his village.
104 1401 304 1106 473 376 856 1086 1565 1610 93 1593 440 1258 843 1175 1213 1172 705 1394 484 128 977 1487 1357 1245 350 1188 916 1126 1207 1164 2 730 903 1052 1064 1034 641 916 856 252 343 77