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What are readers saying about The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano: Written by Himself (Bedford Series in History & Culture)?
| Reviews of The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano: Written by Himself (Bedford Series in History & Culture) - Page 1 of 1 | «1»
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-02-13 07:57:06.
(Language: English)
 
Olaudah is my homeboy. Not really but this is a really great narrative and perspective. Everyone should read it. First time I read about thumb-screws... eek.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-07-30 11:05:36.
(Language: English)
FYI: Historians believe that Equiano faked this narrative based on first hand accounts from other slaves. He was most probably never a slave himself.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-01-16 06:56:31.
(Language: English)
This is a MUST READ for anyone who values world history. I've started will continue when thers more time.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-02-23 04:45:20.
(Language: English)
Gracious narrative by a man abused by white society...yet desiring to make a difference. The simplicity of his story is as fabulous as the story itself.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-02-03 10:05:01.
(Language: English)
Just OK
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Jen posted a review at 2009-08-12 09:27:28.
(Language: English)
Considered by some to be one of the first and most eloquent slave narratives written, this is an account of the life experiences of Olaudah Equiano (also known as Gustavas Vassa). Unlike other narratives written at the time and after the publication of his, Equiano's story did not attempt to preach about the evils of slavery or sermonize abolition. Instead, it focused on his experiences, his sorrows, pain and grief, and turned the generic topic of slavery into something personal and raw. This is an incredibly moving read not because of its flowery turn of phrases and pleas for understanding, but because of the lack of these things. Like with The Pianist, which I read earlier this year, the sheer horror of this man's experiences, which began when he was a boy of eleven and kidnapped from his village, are that much worse to read because they are recounted in such a matter of fact fashion. As the betrayals pile on the humiliations and physical pain, it becomes harder to see how he was even able to continue enduring. What makes this narrative even more interesting, though, is that his recollections aren't just about the suffering experienced. He relays a lot of detail about the sea journeys he went on, including during battles between the French and English, and his reactions to things new and bizarre encountered at different stages of his life. As a result, the narrative becomes not just a personal reflection of slavery and the slave trade, but an interesting historical glimpse of the time period through the eyes of someone not born into the world, but who has to learn to live in it anyway. As a side note, if anyone has seen the film Amazing Grace, this is the slave narrative and person referenced often in that film, who the main character meets and befriends, and who in part convinces him to pursue a legal ban on slavery in England.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-23 12:52:13.
(Language: English)
Interesting read gave me a broader perspective on west africans.janaya aka Baby J
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-17 10:00:58.
(Language: English)
This is a book I actually never read until I taught it the first time (don't tell my students that!). I kind of dreaded it, but it really does raise a lot of great issues for discussion in a history class.
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