An African's Life: The Life and Times of Olaudah Equiano, 1745-1797

by James Walvin

The autobiography of Olaudah Equiano, a prominent African in late 18th-century Britain, is quoted, anthologized and interpreted in dozens of books and articles. More than any single contemporary, Equiano speaks for the fate of millions of Africans in the era of the transatlantic slave trade. This study attempts to create a rounded portrait of the man behind the literary image, and to study Equiano in the context of Atlantic slavery.

Genres: Biography

205 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

James Walvin taught for many years at the University of York where he is now Professor of History Emeritus. He also held visiting positions in the Caribbean, the U.S.A. and Australia. He won the prestigious Martin Luther King Memorial Prize for his book Black and White, and has published widely on the history of slavery and the slave trade. His book The People's Game was a pioneering study of the history of football and remains in print thirty years after its first publication.

Reviews

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this book for a class, and I have to say that it is one of the best assigned books that I've ever had to read. I would have read this even if it wasn't assigned, because it was very interesting, and I enjoyed it. Although the small print of the words made it harder to read.

[Esme · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating!

[Pierre · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read. The first slave narrative he describes different islands and the treatment of slaves, makes the point that the worst treatment of slaves through out the Indies and the world is in Georgia. He also maintains a christian faith and compassionate viewpoint that are a wonder when I believe I myself would be either collapsing into despair or exploding with rebellious rage. The last chapter is a desperate and charged call to the Queen of England to end slavery everywhere.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart wrenching and brutally honest. Read this to gain a perspective on a slave who was torn from his family, survived the slave ship journey and eventually educated himself to the point of eloquence. WOW!