Olaudah Equiano, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Written by Himself, 1791. Famous Black Civil Rights Activists and Politicians . Olaudah Equiano, kidnapped at age 11, became one of the most prominent English abolitionists of the 18th century. Equiano published his autobiography, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, in 1789 as a two-volume work. In this autobiography, the author, Olaudah Equiano, detailed his life journey from African captivity to Atlantic slavery to British freedom. In 1773 he accompanied Irving on a polar expedition in search of a northeast passage from Europe to Asia. 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 in The Classic Slave Narratives edited with an introduction by Henry Louis Gates, Jr (New York: Mentor, 1987). The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano (1789) Olaudah Equiano . Introduction (Secondary Source) 1 The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano is the first instance in English in the genre of the slave narrative, the autobiography written by one of the millions of persons from Africa or of African descent The interesting narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African. Olaudah Equiano aka Gustavus Vassa ‘The Breaker of Chains’. Equiano, Olaudah, b. Written by Himself. Vol. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African. Essays for The Life of Olaudah Equiano. His narrative is extremely valuable not only for the wealth of information it presents on children's experiences in the slave trade, but also for those examining the abolitionist movement in England during this period of time. from An African Narrative (1791) While there was land aplenty in America, the key to the American dream of prosperity was labor: one's own and others'. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the autobiography of Olaudah Equiano. It went through one American and eight British editions during his lifetime. THE INTERESTING NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF OLAUDAH EQUIANO, OR GUSTAVUS VASSA, THE AFRICAN Written by himself Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African. Text At last we came in sight of the island of Barbadoes [sic], at which the whites on board gave a great shout, and made many signs of joy to us. American Imprint Collection (Library of Congress) It is one of the earliest-known examples of published writing by an African writer to be widely read in England. Tiebout, Cornelius, 1777-1832, engraver. Introduction (Secondary Source) 1 The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano is the first instance in English in the genre of the slave narrative, the autobiography written by one of the millions of persons from Africa or of African descent The first edition. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African (New York: W. Durrell, 1791). In 1789, the book entitled “The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African” was published. by Rayvenn Shaleigha D’Clark. When distilled, however, the book was a searing condemnation of slavery and the British Empire’s part in the slave … The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African by Olaudah Equiano Chapter II. Text The first object which saluted my eyes when I arrived on the coast was the sea, a slave ship, which was then riding at anchor, and waiting for its cargo. The interesting narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African Contributor Names Equiano, Olaudah, 1745-1797. Olaudah Equiano (c.1745-1797) was an eighteenth-century African writer, antislavery activist, mariner, explorer, and Britain's first black civil servant. This reprints the altered 1814 text. 2, 4. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African/Chapter 2. Tiebout, Cornelius, 1777-1832, engraver. Abolition, Ethnicity, and Identity in The Interesting Narrative Olaudah Equiano (c. 1745 – 31 March 1797) also known as Gustavus Vassa, was a prominent African involved in the British movement for the abolition of the slave trade.He was enslaved as a young man, purchased his freedom, and worked as an author, merchant, and explorer in South America, the Caribbean, the Arctic, the American colonies, and the United Kingdom.