The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavas Vassa, The African
by Olaudah Equiano
The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavas Vassa, the African (1789) stirring compassion about the inhumanity of the slave trade, and helped lead to the passage of the Slave Trade Act of 1807 which ended the African trade for Britain and its colonies. Several hundred subscribers are listed as supporters of Equiano's work, including His Royal Highnesses, the Price of Wales, and the Duke of York. You may also be interested in our African American Library. Equiano's epigraph:
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.
And in that shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his
name, declare his doings among the people.
Isaiah xii. 2, 4.Return to the Olaudah Equiano library.