Olaudah Equiano, Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African. Written by Himself

Joshua Grasso (East Central University)

Ed. by Nicholas Seager, University of Keele
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.05: English Writing and Culture from the Glorious Revolution to the French Revolution, 1689-1789.
Vol. editors: Paul Baines (University of Liverpool), Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Pat Rogers (University of South Florida), Nicholas Seager (University of Keele)

Domains

Slavery / Anti-slavery/ Enslavement/ Enslaved

Dates

First circulation or publication 1789

Places

United States (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Account/ study
Non-Fiction
- Autobiography (literary)

Resources

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Recommended Reading

First published in 1789,

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano

became a lynchpin for the abolitionist cause, as it was a gripping account of slavery written by one who had experienced its horrors first-hand. The book immediately went into a second edition, and thereafter a new edition appeared every year (including two in 1793) until the ninth. Ostensibly the story of one Gustavus Vassa, an African noble abducted into slavery, and his long, eventful career to freedom, it is also a spiritual autobiography along the lines of

Robinson Crusoe

, telling how the ‘fortunate fall’ of slavery can lead to spiritual riches—and a small fortune to boot. Though questions of authenticity and authorship remain, the book is a searing indictment of slavery which forced…

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2159 words

Citation: Grasso, Joshua. "Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African. Written by Himself". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 26 October 2017 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=4380, accessed 24 April 2024.]

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