The Life of Olaudah Equiano
Paperback – Unabridged, January 26, 1999
Dover Publications · Paperback · January 26, 1999
Slave narratives are powerful indictments of the horrors of slavery and oppression, invaluable not only for the stories they tell but also for the consistently high quality of their literary style.
We earn from qualifying purchases.
- Who it’s for
- A literary, firsthand account pairs stark testimony with the texture of eighteenth-century life.
- Themes
- Slavery and oppression, Journey from captivity to freedom, Abolitionism and equal rights
- Genres
- Black & African American Lives, Black History, Slavery Studies
Nearest books
Matched by what the books are about, then ordered by what their readers also loved. Most of these share its genre: Slavery Studies.
My Bondage, My FreedomFrederick Douglass59% matchAlso shares Black & African American Lives and Black History
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American SlaveFrederick Douglass58% matchAlso shares Black & African American Lives
Up From SlaveryBooker T. Washington53% matchAlso shares Black & African American Lives and Black History
The Life and Times of Frederick DouglasFrederick Douglass52% matchAlso shares Black & African American Lives
The Dark ChildCamara Laye48% match
Bury the ChainsAdam Hochschild57% match
The Slave ShipMarcus Rediker67% matchAlso shares Black History
Two Princes of CalabarRandy J. Sparks65% match
For younger readers: The Kidnapped Prince, To Be a Slave, African Town
Start with three books, and this one can be the first.
Members get a new edition every morning: a route out from their books to essays, research and talks, with the reason for each.
Start with this bookAbout this book
Slave narratives are powerful indictments of the horrors of slavery and oppression, invaluable not only for the stories they tell but also for the consistently high quality of their literary style. This book by Olaudah Equiano is one such story. 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.
Continue reading
Charting a passage that takes him from life as an Igbo prince in what is now eastern Nigeria to the New World, Equiano begins with a description of his native land that includes particulars of the dress, agriculture, industry, commerce, rituals, superstitions, and religious ceremonies of his country. In stark and poignant detail he gives a compelling account of his kidnapping and his ordeal aboard the slave ship, his service in the French and Indian wars, as well as many other of his vicissitudes and adventures until he finally settles in England, where he becomes a key figure in the British abolitionist movement. Skillfully written with a wealth of grossing detail, this volume powerfully illustrates the nature of the black experience in slavery, making it essential reading for students of African-American history and anyone interested in the struggle for equal rights and human dignity.
History, Told Firsthand
A literary, firsthand account pairs stark testimony with the texture of eighteenth-century life.
Come here for
- Details of Igbo life alongside testimony of captivity
- A journey toward freedom, literacy, and abolitionist work
Expect
- Wide-ranging historical detail and serious moral force
- Polished prose carrying painful testimony
Where it sits
| Black & African American Lives | 87% |
|---|---|
| Slavery Studies | 34% |
| Black History | 28% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Black & African American Lives
- Black History
- Civil Rights
- African American Studies
Show all 5 publisher categories
- Slavery Studies
- Authors
- Olaudah Equiano
- Publisher
- Dover Publications
- Published
- January 26, 1999
- Format
- Paperback
- Theme
- Slavery and oppression · Journey from captivity to freedom · Abolitionism and equal rights
- Reading lane
- Black & African American Lives