Olaudah equiano has 94 books on goodreads with 32822 ratings. Olaudah equiano was born in the benin empire or modernday southwest nigeria, which was a targeted region where many slaves were sourced, due to its proximity to the water, for easier trading. In his biography, he records he was born in what is now nigeria, kidnapped and sold into slavery as a child. Olaudah equianos argument against slavery was his life. It played an important role in the english abolitionist movement in 1807.
After being transported to the african coast and subsequently to barbados and virginia, he was bought by a former naval officer and merchant, michael henry pascal, who brought him to england. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the autobiography of olaudah equiano. Olaudah equianos views of slavery in his narrative of the life. The wretched situation was again aggravated by the chains, now. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano or gustavus vassa the. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano by equiano, olaudah. Gustavus vassa, baptized as olaudah equiano was a calvinist sailor, abolitionist and nigerian writer.
This enabled him to become a british citizen and he began writing about his experiences. Kidnapped from his african village at the age of eleven, and sold as a slave to a virginia planter. But by far his most important contribution to the abolition movement was his autobiography, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano or gustavus vassa, the. The life of olaudah equiano study guide from litcharts the. Olaudah equiano about 17451797 was one of the most prominent people of african heritage involved in the british debate for the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. He lived mainly in the british colonies of america and the united kingdom. Aug 07, 2017 the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano by olaudah equiano is published by norton critical edition. It had shown that people were willing to take steps in bettering conditions of slaves or hopefully getting rid of slavery altogether. Olaudah equiano, kidnapped at age 11, became one of the most prominent english abolitionists of the 18th century. The effect of slave trade represented by life of olaudah equiano by gustavas vassc the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavas vassa, the african, written by himself, recounts the story of a child who is born in west africa, but is kidnapped and thrown into a western world completely foreign to him.
The theme of freedom and slavery in the life of olaudah. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the free ebook project gutenberg. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano annotated. Sold as a slave by olaudah equiano nook book ebook. This wretched situation was again aggravated by the galling of the chains, now. Olaudah equiano life on board international slavery museum, liverpool museums the first object which saluted my eyes when i arrived on the coast was the sea, and a slave ship, which was then riding at anchor and waiting for its cargo. In the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, former slave olaudah equiano tells the story of his life, from the time he and his sister were kidnapped and enslaved, through his emancipation, and subsequent freedom. Published in 1789, equianos autobiography was the first of its kind to influence a wide audience.
Olaudah equiano slave narratives essay 2001 words 9 pages. Olaudah equianos most popular book is the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equ. 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. Jun 30, 2010 slave narrative one olaudah equiano 1789. However, the most influential action that equiano did was in 1789 when he published his book entitled the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. May 31, 2007 equiano moved in high social circles, wrote and spoke frequently in various public media on abolition issues, and petitioned the british parliament on the evils of slavery. After surviving the middle passage and enduring slavery in the americas, britain, and on trading ships sailing the atlantic, equiano purchased his freedom in 1766. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, written in 1789, is the autobiography of olaudah equiano. Equiano was born in an african village and kidnapped into slavery at the age of eleven. The narrative is argued to be a variety of styles, such as a slavery narrative, travel narrative, and spiritual narrative. What did the autobiography of olaudah equiano reveal about. That part of africa, known by the name of guinea, to which the trade for slaves is. From an early age, olaudah equiano experienced the horrors of slavery first hand. The narrative is argued to represent a variety of styles, such as a slavery narrative, travel narrative, and spiritual narrative. Equiano s narrative spurred nine english editions through 1794 and was published in dutch, french, and russian. Now read my early life in eboe, the first chapter of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african new york.
In twelve chapters, equiano presented a body of evidence that helped to support the cause of abolition and the end of transatlantic slaving by britain and others. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or. Published in 1789, equiano s autobiography was the first of its kind to influence a wide audience. Books by olaudah equiano author of the interesting narrative. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. His pioneering narrative of the journey from slavery to freedom, a bestseller first.
Children and youth in history children in the slave trade. 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. He describes scenes of outrageous torture and made it clear to his readers how the institution of slavery dehumanized both owner and. Captured far from the african coast when he was a boy of 11, olaudah equiano was sold into slavery, later acquired his freedom, and, in 1789, wrote his widelyread autobiography, the interesting. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, first published in 1789 in london,1 is the autobiography of olaudah equiano. Olaudah equiano life on board a slaves account black. No 79 the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano by olaudah equiano 1789. In 1789 he published his autobiography, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano or gustavus vassa, the african. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano essays are academic essays for citation. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african. He was sold twice more but purchased his freedom in 1766. Until recently, slave studies rarely discussed childrens experiences, but it has been estimated that one quarter of the slaves who crossed the atlantic were children.
The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa full audiobook duration. Again, equiano seems to separate slav ery into different categories, even lessening his argument against slavery in england by comparing it with the west indies. Olaudah equiano, was a former enslaved african, seaman and merchant who wrote an autobiography depicting the horrors of slavery and lobbied parliament for its abolition. Equiano doesnt overly idealize the african hometown where he came from. Subsequent to his manumission, he continued a life on the seas and, encouraged by friends in london, published the dramatic account of his life in 1789. Olaudah equiano s most popular book is the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equ. Books by olaudah equiano author of the interesting. Olaudah equiano was born in essaka, an igbo village in the kingdom of benin now. This african chant mourns the loss of olaudah equiano, an 11yearold boy and son of. The above book was of great use to me, and at that time was a means of. Contribution to the abolition of slavery life of olaudah. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equian full audiobook part 3 duration. Jan 01, 2009 equiano moved in high social circles, wrote and spoke frequently in various public media on abolition issues, and petitioned the british parliament on the evils of slavery. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano by.
Olaudah equiano, later to be known as gustavus vassa was born in eboe region of benin, what is today, nigeria. Olaudah equiano slave narratives according to abraham lincoln, slavery is founded on the selfishness of mans nature. Olaudah equiano 16 october 1745 31 march 1797, known in his lifetime as gustavus vassa. This extract, taken from chapter twelve of the interesting narrative, contains equiano s arguments against the slave trade, in particular, his argument that the trade did not make sound economic sense. Olaudah equiano describes the horrors of the middle passage, 1780s. Africans in america teachers guide part 1 questions. 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. Written by himself by olaudah equiano olaudah equiano created a record of the 18th century slave trade through his firsthand knowledge and experiences and the writing of this book. But, eventually one of his master gave him his freedom. Olaudah equiano the interesting narrative of the life of.
He told the story of his life and suffering as a slave. In this autobiography, the author, olaudah equiano, detailed his life journey from african captivity to atlantic slavery to british freedom. Equiano is the son of one of the largest nigerian ethnic groups, igbo family ibo. Abolition, ethnicity, and identity in the interesting narrative. Feb 03, 20 the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african. Equiano s moving account delves into his experience as a sailor and explores the importance of his religious. 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. His life represented the greatest contradiction the expansion of slavery and freedom. His interesting narrative served as the foremost abolitionist writing of the day because he was an african voice that described the violence and degradation of the slave trade and of slavery itself. Feb 01, 2007 this book, sold as a slave, is a republication of sections of his longer biography and covers his account of with a sense of heightened curiousity, i found a copy of his autobiography, the life of olaudah equiano, or, gustavus vassa, the african, and devoured it in a short time.
The most popular account of the slave experience written by olaudah equiano 1789, son of west african chief kidnapped by slave traders in the 1750s. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano annotated kindle edition by equiano, olaudah. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. From the 16th to the 18th centuries, an estimated 20 million africans crossed the atlantic to the americas in the transatlantic slave trade. The book remained in print until the end of the 1830s. My father, besides many slaves, had a numerous family, of which seven lived to. History, oratory, and god in equianos interesting narrative jstor. The life of olaudah equiano quotes and analysis gradesaver. Enslaved as a child, he was taken to the caribbean and sold as a slave to a royal navy officer. As an 11 year old boy, equiano was kidnapped, by members of another african tribe and was sold into the slave trade, marking the loss of his freedom. The life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa the african by.
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