The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano

Well, I highly doubt this is an honest account of this man's life
Towards the end, I did some research and found others too have doubted the accuracy. Some of his situations seem quite fanciful.
I do not, however, doubt the accuracy in portrayal of the treatment of enslaved and feed Africana and African Americans

This biography is a touching, unsettling, and uplifting account written by a black man who eventually ended up in England, helping in Wilberforce's antislavery movement that ended slave trade for good in Britain. He himself was pressed into a slave's life numerous times, after being abducted from Africa, and spent time both as a servant and as slave, with experiences that were at horrific to recount or relive for him. He was a deeply positive individual who continously saw his cup as "half full" instead of "half empty" and strove to press for the removal of this practice as he matured in years and spirituality. It is very encouraging to read of his experiences and how he both survived them and grew through them.

This book provides a great level of detail about the first real global abolitionist of African descent. Equiano was eloquent and well educated; the only Negro of that era to gain an audience from all levels of Arisocracy in Great Britain...to include the royal families.

"The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano: Written by Himself" is quite an extraordinary story. Equiano was just at age eleven when he was captured as a slave, then further along his lifetime he rose up and worked his way up to obtain his own freedom. Fascinating story in a good, lightweight paperback edition. A very short and easy read. Recommended for anyone who has an interest in 18th Century history.

Living in Virginia, there are several restored plantations. It is always the owners house that is restored and toured. I have never seen slave quarters or their lives or cultures restored and discussed. They were treated awful and it is a blight on our society, however, many died to make them free. Some of the worst slave owners were black, many other countries had slaves going back to the old Testament. This book puts their lives in more perspective.

Not much to say. Sometimes fascinating, often times tedious and annoying... don't just read it for readings sake. Vassa... or is it Equiano will surprise you in the end.

And he might not even be the true author!

How many millions of Africans were sold into slavery, died on the Atlantic crossing and suffered captivity as possessions of other humans till they died? Nobody knows, but the number is overwhelming. It was another, earlier holocaust brought about by a brutal combination of African rulers and Euro-American dealers. Unlike the survivors of the Holocaust during WW II, few Africans were literate, at least not in European languages, nor did they get access to pen and paper. So, we don't have the same number of stories. That's why this autobiography is so important. It tells in stark, yet very human terms, how a slave's life could go, from a slave's perspective. Olaudah Equiano, kidnapped at age 11, from his Nigerian village (of course, that nation had not come into existence yet), was sold and re-sold, shipped across the seas in a slave vessel with abominable conditions, then sold and sold again. He prayed continually for freedom, but did not win it for many years. Even `good' masters betrayed him, what to say of the devils who treated him worse than a dog. He survived battles, shipwrecks, the attentions of American kidnappers of freed slaves, and much more. He learned good English, reading, writing and navigation. At last, in the West Indies he bought his freedom with money he'd earned by bitter toil, returned to England and roamed no more. Born in 1745, he died in 1797, at about 52 years of age, having published this book eight years before.

Not only is this an interesting, amazing slave narrative of suffering and adventure, containing one of the earliest insider descriptions of African village life, it is also a monument to humanity. Olaudah Equiano, known to Europeans as "Gustavus Vassa", still had faith in God after all that had befallen him, he writes without much malice, but crying out against the evil of slavery with all his might. I think there are few people who advocate slavery today, but for those who would read of the triumph of the human spirit, this is your book. Read it !

Self-serving and repetitive. The writing style also suggests a ghost writer. Definitely worth the price at free. Over priced if money is involved. This is sad since it also opens up some aspects of the global slave trade in the 1700-1800 centuries that most people do know anything about.

What I have never understood about the transatlantic slave trade (and perhaps slavery more generally) is the apparent economical stupidities committed by the owners. I am not exactly a proponent of bringing back a more economically efficient version of it but here's the question: How can it make sense to spend lots of money buying slaves, shipping them across the ocean under circumstances where a significant fraction dies, and then treat them with extreme cruelty upon arrival in their new home? Wouldn't you be better off economically if you took good care of your property to maximize the return on your investment? Apparently Olaudah Equiano, aka Gustavus Vasa, wondered the same thing as he experienced first-hand this stupidity at work.

His book is remarkable in many ways, perhaps foremost that it exists at all. Obviously a man of high intelligence and craftiness he figured out how trade (not just with slaves) worked and made himself enough money to buy his freedom in the late 1700's. He then spent many years in England and the Carribean, and even made side-trips to the Mediterranean, Turkey, and the Arctic. While he from time to time owned slaves himself he, and at least some others at the time, clearly figured out that he could get more work done and greater loyalty if he treated them like humans.

The book is a very interesting account of much of his life and well worth a read. His religious conversion to Christianity likely played a major part in enabling the publication. The only drawback for this reader is that he evidently became not just a casual Christian but a really zealous one. The last 50 pages or so is spent largely discussing his never-ending efforts to convert the plentiful heathens that crossed his path, which to me gets a little tedious. On the other hand Equiano's work and written account played a part in raising awareness of cruelties and no doubt was influential in eventually getting the practice abolished in the civilized world - although it is still a healthy enterprise in a number of parts of the world in 2012.

Unlike much other writing on slavery that is written to serve some purpose other than its abolishment this first-hand account truly does have credibility.

This is the real thing. Not just a slave narrative which would be fascinating and horrifying enough, this incredible book chronicles the life of a man of color who was enslaved, traded numerous times through Africa, the West Indies, America, England, and back again to the Indies, AND when finally able to purchase his freedom, was constantly in danger of being forced back into slavery by unscrupulous people who seemed to be the order of the day. To be a black person in the Americas in those days was the definition of Hell. Nowhere was there justice. This book is so powerful because it is written by one who experienced and witnessed these things firsthand. The book's writing is eloquent and easy to read once you get into the rhythm of the era's style of expression. That the young Equiano had the burning desire to educate himself and found the means through a few good people to do so, shows a glimpse of the power of his personality. His account of his spiritual awakening is one of the most moving I have ever read. I wish I could go back in time and hug him. A beautiful and moving memoir by an incredible human being.

The Interesting Narrative of The Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African is an autobiography revealing the brutality and inhumanity of the Atlantic slave trade during the eighteenth century. By definition, a slave is chattel and is not a full person in his or her own right and permitted no identity other than as a slave. However, Equiano is an exception and manages to create an identity beyond the life of an African slave while preserving his sense of humanity in spite of his many ordeals. Equiano's genial attitude towards his many masters and strict sense of personal pride distinguished him from other slaves. Equiano's differentiating characteristics allowed him to establish an identity within the sphere of slavery while concurrently preserving his humanity.

The narrative opens with Equiano seeking to establish an identity liberated from the chains of slavery by recounting his African roots. Equiano's twelve years as a happy child living in Eboe is fundamental to his whole life. All that he learned as an Eboe governed Equiano's early conduct as a slave. Traditionally, African slaves were subservient to their masters viewing their master as their liege. Equiano is different viewing his masters as a father saying, "in short he was like a father to me ... I loved him with the affection of a son" (Equiano, 92). Equiano's attachment and attitude towards his many masters is the result of Equiano viewing his master as a father figure. Remembering moral aspects of his youth, Equiano views his many masters as a father, recognizing his place within the social hierarchy and seeking the affirmation from his masters; similar to the way a son aspires to make his father proud.

Equiano also remembers the subjection of his village to the king, and his father's standing within the community as one of the elders or chiefs imprinting on Equiano as the highest distinction within their social structure (Equiano, 33). From a very early age, Equiano understood the importance of social status and his honorable values are traced back to his Eboe childhood. Equiano lived by "honest and honourable means believing that honesty is the best policy; for I remembered the old adage, and I trust that it has ever been my ruling principal ... to do unto all men as I would they should do to me" (Equiano, 119). The core values instilled in Equiano as a youth lay the foundation for his identity and his flexibility to assess and adapt to almost any situation is extraordinary. Like a calculator, Equiano is a fast thinker who shapes any circumstance, no matter how adverse, to his advantage. Learning to sail, in spite of Equiano's initial fear of the water, provided him the financial recourses to buy his freedom and eventually become his own merchant. This way of thinking distinguishes Equiano from other slaves providing him opportunities not granted to other slaves.

Captured by white slave traders at the age of twelve, Equiano was shackled and quickly delivered to his first African master. Within a month, the master's family trusted Equiano giving him some personal freedom and a little distance from the house. Although slavery limited Equiano's opportunities for self-discovery, he strived early on to discover where he came from and who he was. Equiano embraced "every opportunity to inquire the way to [his] own home ... observing that [his] father's house was towards the rising sun" (Equiano, 48). Searching for the way back home, Equiano projects his escape and successfully hid for an afternoon. Although the escape situation was the result of killing a chicken and hiding to escape the wrath a slave woman, Equiano did have a potential opportunity to escape later that night. To the astonishment of the slave woman, the search for Equiano ended the next morning when he was found sleeping in the fireplace. This is a pivotal point in the narrative where Equiano realizes that his previous life and identity are lost and, Equiano returns to the house where he will continue as a slave. Later in the narrative, Equiano procures his emancipation from Robert King and Equiano goes from a slave to a man, and from the object of a master to a subject of the English Crown. Equiano does not view slavery as a punishment, but rather a circumstance in life. Equiano believed if he worked hard and was honorable; he could improve his circumstances. Equiano realizes he will have to fashion an identity as a slave, and it is through Equiano's experiences as a slave that shape his personal identity as a free man.

Sold to many masters, Equiano travels closer to the western coast of Africa where he is taken into service and made to forget he is a slave. "In this resemblance to my former happy state I passed about two months, and now I began to think I was to be adopted into the family" (Equiano, 53). Under the care of his African new master, Equiano was barely treated as a slave. He grew quite close to his new master who treated Equiano with respect since Equiano was the eldest, and his master "would not at any time either eat or drink till [Equiano] had taken first" (Equiano, 53). Equiano is then sold to an English master named Pascal, where Equiano traveled to Falmouth and later to England. While lodging at a gentleman's house the young girl who lived there "grew prodigiously fond of [Equiano]; insomuch that [they] used to eat together, and had servants to wait on [them]" (Equiano, 68). Although Equiano was a slave, many of his masters took a likening to Equiano treating him like a member of the family. Other slaves instilled fear in Equiano saying that his masters would eat him, but generally Equiano was treated with kindness. While under the servitude of Pascal, Equiano learned to sail, to read and write, and was introduced to Christianity. The aforementioned traits are characteristically English, highlighting the roots of Equiano's identity as a free English citizen can be traced back to his servitude. Equiano is eager to be a true Englishman saying, "I no longer looked upon them as spirits, but as men superior to us; and therefore I had a strong desire to resemble them" (Equiano, 78). While in England, Equiano converts to Christianity and is baptized at St. Margaret's Church in Westminster.

Although Pascal treated Equiano very well, their relationship was not always comfortable and Equiano faced difficulties while serving Pascal. Challenging Equiano, Pascal denied Equiano military reparations and manumission. As a trustworthy seaman, Equiano deserved financial compensation and freedom from Pascal for his honest service, and though Pascal is responsible for betraying Equiano, Equiano does not blame Pascal. Equiano turns towards God saying, "I felt that the Lord was able to disappoint me in all things, and immediately considered my present situation as a judgment from Heaven" (Equiano, 95). Equiano has every right to be furious with Pascal and instead chooses to be angry with God, not Pascal. This illustrates Equiano's genial attitude towards his masters even when Equiano has every right to fight back against authority.

Establishing himself as a competent sailor, the sea was an equalizer that distinguished Equiano in spite of his skin color. The sea gave Equiano a platform to hone his nautical skills, save money, and eventually buy his freedom. The life of a sailor was fully ingrained into the consciousness of Equiano, and the sea became a part of Equiano as he became part of the sea. Prior to Equiano's experiences at sea, he believed that it was an individual's interactions with external forces that determined the course of an individual's life, not their choices or free will. Becoming an accomplished sailor changed Equiano's predestinarian interpretation of the world, and it was through his experiences as a sailor that Equiano uncovered opportunities to exploit to his advantage. Equiano's fervent dedication towards his masters and his adaptably in a variety of situations were rewarded with success, providing prospects to establish a path for freedom. Equiano used the skills he learned as a slave to buy his freedom and procure his position among the British merchant class. This demonstrates that through honoring his masters and hard work, Equiano was able to raise his status and break the chains of slavery.

Drawing on his experiences as a youth, Equiano has a strict sense of personal pride. Equiano became "inured to that service, and began to consider [himself] as happily situated; for [his] master treated [him] extremely well; and [his] attachment and gratitude to [his master] were very great" (Equiano, 77). Mutual respect between master and slave provides Equiano opportunities to establish his identity. Equiano demonstrates that African's are not uncivilized, or backwards, they were simply different from Europeans. Equiano's respect for his master is a testament to the dignity of Africans and his relatively moderate fate was unusual for a slave. Equiano demonstrates that mutual respect between a master and a slave could procure better living conditions and opportunities that were not typical. Equiano was able to create an identity within the sphere of slavery where he learned the craft of sailing and eventually purchased his freedom by the age of twenty. Equiano's says, "by changing your conduct, and treating your slaves as men, every cause of fear would be banished. They would be faithful, honest, intelligent and vigorous; peace, prosperity, and happiness would attend you" (Equiano, 112). As a slave, Equiano was fortunate having many benign masters. It is through their benevolence that Equiano is able to seize opportunities allowing him to build an identity while enslaved.

Equiano's honorable pride and noble aptitude of pleasing his masters are two leading factors that facilitated his escape from the hardships of slavery and helped him earn is freedom. Equiano worked hard at his duties as a slave developing his skills as a sailor that led to an occupation as an English merchant. Overcoming the idea of being a common slave, Equiano's masters offered him better circumstances that led to his freedom. Equiano did not view his obstacles as difficult or impossible, but rather as an opportunity to obtain his ultimate goal, freedom. Because Equiano trusts in God, he worked hard to overcome his hardships and the impossible life of a slave. Equiano believed that freedom was in his reach and did not let the oppressive life of a slave take control. Equiano did the exact opposite; he used the hardships of slavery to his advantage assigning importance to his life. Equiano's story is the search for identity, and it was through his experiences as a slave that Equiano found the means to achieve the life he desired.

Editor Robert Allison's combining passages from different editions deserves some criticism. But some reviewers have overreacted and will dissuade some readers from experiencing this classic work. As a corrective, here's my review of the Dover Thrift Edition.

Readers beware: here lies real adventure. Dover's Equiano has little scholarly apparatus, and doesn't really address recent assertions that he may not have been born in Nigeria. (Cf. V. Carretta, "Equiano the African," and debates in the journal "Slavery & Abolition.") But it presents the basic text at the lowest price, making a great work available to cash-strapped students. Even apart from his riveting descriptions of 18C slavery, OE saw more of the world than almost all other Africans and indeed most people up to his time, successfully negotiating countless challenging cross-cultural encounters. OE offers perceptive ethnographies of Igbo, Caribbean, North American, British and Miskitu Indian societies, as well as a moving conversion narrative in the classic Augustinian tradition of autobiography. This work offers endless riches for those studying many aspects of the modern world. Finally, it documents his later career as a leading abolitionist, a movement strongly influenced by this foundational text. Truly a book that made history.

Readers beware: here lies real adventure. Dover's Equiano has little scholarly apparatus, and doesn't really address recent assertions that he may not have been born in Nigeria. (Cf. V. Carretta, "Equiano the African," & debates in the journal "Slavery & Abolition.") But it presents the basic text at the lowest price, making a true classic available to cash-strapped students. Even apart from his riveting descriptions of 18C slavery, OE saw more of the world than almost all other Africans and indeed most people up to his time, successfully negotiating countless challenging cross-cultural encounters. OE offers very perceptive ethnographies of Igbo, Caribbean, North American, British and Miskitu Indian societies, as well as a moving conversion narrative in the classic Augustinian tradition of autobiography. This work offers endless riches for those studying many aspects of the modern world. Finally, it documents his later career as a leading abolitionist, a movement strongly influenced by this foundational text. Truly a book that made history.

PS, corrections are needed concerning the statements on this product page: "Equiano was born in Ghana, he was captured and sent as a slave to the United States where he worked on a plantation in Mississippi before converting to Christianity which eventually led to his freedom."

--- Equiano was born in Nigeria (or South Carolina, if one believes Vincent Carretta). He was NOT born in Ghana.
--- He never traveled to Ghana.
--- He never worked on a Mississippi plantation.
--- He never traveled to Mississippi.
--- Mississippi did not exist in Equiano's lifetime.
--- His conversion did not lead to his emancipation.
--- Becoming Christian did not secure freedom for slaves.
--- Equiano purchased his freedom from his master; this is documented twice in the book.
--- His conversion occurred gradually, over a number of years.

So few words, so many errors. Impressive.

"The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudiah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, The African, written by Himself" is the story of an African man, Olaudiah Equiano (slave name: Gustavus Vassa) who was (evidently) born in 1745 in what is now Nigeria. He was captured by African slave traders, taken to the Atlantic coast, and sold into the slave trade. He was taken to the Caribbean, then Virginia, and eventually Europe. He served a ship's captain and sailed the Mediterranean and on a voyage to explore the North Pole (Greenland). He obtained his freedom and became an author and early anti-slavery activist. The publication of this book made him the best-selling black African author ever (up to that time). This book became a prototype of the "up-from-slavery" autobiography (typified by Frederick Douglass) and is a classic among Atlantic slave narratives.
The book is autobiographical and arranged chronologically, the author detailing events of his African childhood and his years as a slave and eventual self-emancipation. One notable thing about the book is the extent to which it is a travelogue: Equiano clearly enjoys telling travel tales more than decrying the horrors of slavery. His depictions of being a "stranger in a strange land" (e.g., the first time he encounters a clock, a painted portrait, books) are memorable.
The Norton edition is filled with related texts pertaining to Equiano and his times: articles and excerts by other writers about Africa, slavery, abolition, Equiano's birthplace, his literary influences; a useful map; a diagram of a sailing ship, etc. A good choice among several editions of Equiano's book.

In the later parts of 1700s some opposition of slavery was developed due to horrendous accounts given by merchants and slaves, like Equiano. That was the first time in history when opposition of slavery grew. And this is one of them.

This book gives account of the life of a slave. Before he gets kidnapped, he gives some accounts of slavery back in Africa, which is a lot different than the ones in Americas or England.

Many people who have read this book said it's either BORING or VERY INTERESTING. I think this book is interesting, though, but I can't consider it as a favorite book of mine. It has hard to read; lots of big words. There's also a lot of switch-back-and-forths between where events take place and I couldn't really keep it up. Maybe because I was reading too fast or maybe because I wasn't following too well.

This book is like a life of a slave. BUT NOT the kind of slave that you would expect. It has no similarities compared to Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass. It's totally a different account. So if you expect to read a horrific story about slavery in Americas, don't choose this one. This book will give you a pretty good idea of how Africans were treated. (A lot of times this story takes place on a ship.)

Prospective buyers of Mr. Allison's edition of Equiano's autobiography should be advised that although Mr. Allison says that his "edition follows the first American printing . . . (New York, 1791)" and that "the only significant changes . . . are the insertion of paragraph breaks and notes to the text," Mr. Allison does not warn the reader that he's silently combined parts of various editions of the autobiography to form a book Equiano himself never published. For example, if you compare the next-to-the-last paragraph (p. 195), in which Equiano mentions his marriage, to the passage on page 187, where he says his hand is free, you might get the impression that he's saying he's available for adultery or bigamy. But the fault lies not in Equiano, who changed the earlier passage after he added the paragraph about his marriage in 1792. What Mr. Allison gives us is his text, not Equiano's. And he might have mentioned that the New York edition was published without Equiano's knowledge or permission. Readers should also not assume that all "facts" given are true. For example, on page 21, Gronniosaw's book was published in 1772 (not 1770), Marrant's in 1785 (not 1790), and Equiano died on 31 March 1797 (not in April).

"The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano" has always been spoken of in literature courses but to finally read his book gave me good insight into who this man really was. To understand the language used in the 18th century and how that language helped to push the abolitionists into action is key within the study of slavery during this time. If you have never read a narrative by an African who was stolen into slavery and eventually became a self made man, this is the book for you.

Excellent book that would greatly benefit anyone who reads it. A must-read. It thoroughly enlightened me as I had never read a narrative of an actual man who directly experienced and endured the slave trade and slavery.

Many books and movies focus on what slaves in America had to go through, but this book allows us to look at the experience of a slave who came to America to visit, but whose primary experiences of slavery were in Britain. Since the British abolished slavery decades before the U.S. did, people tend to forget that they were part of this terrible aspect of history too! Good for broadening your understanding.

This book is not for those with a passing interest in history. This is a book about a man who was trying to change his time. He did so by sharing his life. It is really good. But it is not that easy to understand.

I've started reading this book for my history research project, and I find it enjoyable, exciting, and disturbing all at the same time. It provides a realistic view of what slaves went through during the Middle Passage (a term that I hate because it's way too euphemistic). It's exciting becuase once Olaudah is sold to Captain Pascal he goes through many adventures, some of them maudlin. But I haven't been able to read the whole thing because my paper only needs two chapters of it. So I just bought it for Kindle because I wanted to finish the narrative on my own time. It is quite a story.

This is one of those cases where Equiano deserves a lot of credit for getting his work published. However, he doesn't deserve a lot of credit for drafting a readable narrative for 21st century scholars. This is tough to get through (even for those of us interested in African history) because of how over-written it us, and ultimately it may be best to read only excerpts. As primary source, it continues to enlighten the period and the problem of slavery. Beyond that, however, don't expect much.

Equiano was kidnapped from his village in Nigeria at 10 years of age - taken into a World of slavery. But he found a way to buy back his freedom. He eventually walked the streets of London as a free man. How? That is why you need to read this book. I highly recommend you read this 200 year old autobiography.