Review of Emily J. Maurits, Olaudah Equiano: A Man of Many Names, Fearn: Christian Focus,
The story of the life of Olaudah Equiano is a fascinating one. He was born about in Benin, probably in modern day Nigeria. At the age of ten or eleven, he was kidnapped by African slave traders, and later sold to white slavers. Whatever it meant to him, it did enable him to see a significant part of the world &#; Barbados, Virginia, service in the Seven Years War, London, and the West Indies. Along the way, he heard about God, and was baptised, and purchased his freedom. In London, he worked as a hairdresser, learnt the French horn, and even went on an expedition to the Arctic. In he had a vision that it was Jesus’ blood which saved him.
The unusual subtitle comes from the fact that Equiano’s African name means ‘the fortunate one’ or ‘well spoken’. Yet he also became known as Michael, and later was given the name ‘Gustavus Vassa’, when he wanted to be known as Jacob. Nothing was straightforward.
Equiano was able to tell the infamous story of the Zong massacre where slaves were thrown overboard in order to claim insurance. Granville Sharp, the amateur lawyer (and Greek New Testament
Sold as a Slave
The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano
On a British stamp
This dry but affecting autobiography is an important progenitor of what would later become known, especially in American contexts, as the slave narrative. Behind the uninspiring title (‘You might as well call it Some Words on a Page,’ my wife said), Equiano's life was an extraordinary one. Born somewhere among the Igbo peoples of West Africa, he was kidnapped by black slavers when he was eight or nine, taken to the coast, and sold to a British slave ship, which carried him first to Barbados and then to Virginia. Bought by a British officer, he served in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years War, and was later resold to a Quaker merchant from Philadelphia, who put him to work on a variety of his trading vessels and plantations in the American states and the Caribbean. Eventually, Equiano amassed enough money to purchase his freedom. He settled in London and continued to travel intermittently as a professional ship's steward, ultimately becoming a prominent voice in the abolitionist movement at the end of the eighteenth century. This memoir was published in , a few days before Parliame
Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. More books than SparkNotes.
Buy Study Guide
Equiano begins his first-person narrative by including several letters that attest to both the veracity of his text and his good character. He then proceeds to his narrative.
He was born in the Eboe province of Africa, and provides cultural detail on those people. While young children, he and his sister were seized by kidnappers and sold to slave traders. After being brought across Africa to the coast, he was sent to the West Indies via the horrific Middle Passage.
He was purchased quickly enough by Michael Henry Pascal, a lieutenant in the Royal Navy. Pascal had intended him as a gift for friends in London, but instead kept Equiano as an aid towards his naval endeavors during the Seven Years’ War. During this time, Equiano heard about the Christian God and started learning to read and write. Through his ability at sea, he became indispensable to Pascal and became accustomed to his situation.
Equiano began to think of freedom, and hoped that Pascal might one day allow it. Unfortunately, Pascal learning of Equiano's ambition, and cruelly sold him to Captain Doran of the Charming Sally.
Biographies you may also like
Singer ranina reddy biography books Ranina Reddy is an Indian playback singer. She has sung in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Konkkani for various music composers including Yuvan Shankar Raja, Harris .
Ghassan hit to biography books The Author Book Returning To Haifa Ghassan Kanafani and the author of 51 another books. Ghassan Kanafani was a Palestinian journalist, fiction writer, and a spokesman for the Popular .
Harold matzner biography Entrepreneur, humanitarian, and philanthropist. Harold Matzner is the owner of Palm Spring’s popular Spencer’s Restaurant and CEO of a NY/NJ based advertising and marketing .
Portrait de chardin biography He created portraits in oil like Portrait of Charles Godefroy (c. , Louvre) and in pastel, such as Self-Portrait Wearing Spectacles (, Louvre).
Predrag predjo vosovic biography of william hill Learn About William Hill Corporate: The Home of Betting, is one of the world’s leading betting and gaming companies, employing 17,+ people g: predrag predjo vosovic.
Portrait de chardin biography He created portraits in oil like Portrait of Charles Godefroy (c. , Louvre) and in pastel, such as Self-Portrait Wearing Spectacles (, Louvre).