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The Interesting Narrative and Other Writings: Revised Edition (Penguin Classics) Revised Edition, Kindle Edition

by Olaudah Equiano (Author), Vincent Carretta (Editor, Introduction) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 366 ratings
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Completely revised and edited with an introduction and notes by Vincent Carretta

An exciting and often terrifying adventure story, as well as an important precursor to such famous nineteenth-century slave narratives as Frederick Douglass's autobiographies, Olaudah Equiano's The Interesting Narrative recounts his kidnapping in Africa at the age of ten, his service as the slave of an officer in the British Navy, his ten years of labor on slave ships until he was able to purchase his freedom in 1766, and his life afterward as a leading and respected figure in the antislavery movement in England. A spirited autobiography, a tale of spiritual quest and fulfillment, and a sophisticated treatise on religion, politics, and economics, The Interesting Narrative is a work of enduring literary and historical value.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
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Previous page
  1. ISBN-13
    978-0142437162
  2. Edition
    Revised
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Penguin Classics
  5. Publication date
    May 27, 2003
  6. Language
    English
  7. File size
    4890 KB
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Olaudah Equiano (1745-1797) was a former slave who became an outspoken opponent of the slave trade.


Vincent Carretta is professor of English at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is the editor of the Penguin Classics editions of the Complete Writings of Phillis Wheatley, Letters of the Late Ignatius Sancho, an African, and Thoughts and Sentiments on the Evil of Slavery and Other Writings by Ottobah Cugoano.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B002EBDOQK
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Classics; Revised edition (May 27, 2003)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 27, 2003
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4890 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 450 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0142437166
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 366 ratings

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Olaudah Equiano

Olaudah Equiano

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
366 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Dawn Rolon
5.0 out of 5 stars Great
Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2023
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Michael Ditmore
5.0 out of 5 stars Sustainable societies in Midwestern Africa
Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2018
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For me the first chapter was best. That's where I learned the most about the sustainable ecology of the lands Equiano came from before he was enslaved. These kinds of societies seem to be the last chance for a close examination of how relatively peaceful societies preserve ecological, practices that yielded stable societies prior to the second wave of colonization.
The second wave of colonization, with its guns and numerical superiority was able to overcome the peoples of the Interior. The period of the musket perforce restricted colonial activities to the outer fringes of the African continent: after the Advent of the rifled musket and rifle, colonists and Colonial forces were finally able to completely dominate the Peoples of Africa. This domination might truly be the African Holocaust.
6 people found this helpful
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K. Morgan
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2016
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I have never read a more well written book. From beginning to end, The author gives a clear insight on the Black Experience as it was during his lifetime. This book draws on all human emotions and provokes thought for modern day civilization. It is a must read! I highly recommend it to all
13 people found this helpful
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Stephen Cheney-Rice
4.0 out of 5 stars Verrryyy Interesting - Narrative, That Is!
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2011
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The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, The African, is indeed an interesting autobiography that is perhaps the best known piece of Romantic era black British antislavery writing or slave narrative.

One of the most interesting things about it is that it was encouraged, published, and propagandized by white British abolitionists in the ultimately successful movement to end the slave trade in Great Britain. Another interesting aspect of the Narrative is its demonstration of the sophistication of language and the deftness of thought of its author, who was enslaved by fellow Africans in what is now Nigeria, sold to English slave traders, served on board ships and became an able seaman in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, saved his money and rose into the mercantile class, and, at the end of his full life left a considerable fortune to his daughter.

This Penguin Classics edition, introduced and edited by Vincent Carretta, includes copious but not overwhelmingly detailed notes and appendices.

If you are interested in race, class, war, Romanticism, and a compelling story, this is a book for you.

Stephen Cheney-Rice
12 people found this helpful
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Joshua Willis
5.0 out of 5 stars Will be grrat
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2021
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I love history. Great, can’t wait to read it
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Jim Francis
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a gift from a great man who lived 200 years ago
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2001
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An amazing story of a young man kidnapped from his African village as a boy, transported to the Caribbean from island to island and his dealings with the people who were in power. How he gained his freedom, then lost it, then gained it again. His struggle to reconcile what the Bible taught about kindness with what he saw the "Christians" actually doing to slaves. This book is essential reading for anyone living in the Caribbean who wants to understand the mental slavery that still exists there to this day. Its THE guide to "self-help" that beats all others. Its the story of a wonderfully determined man.
9 people found this helpful
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Sherri
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2017
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A book everyone should own (every Hebrew & Israelite especially)
2 people found this helpful
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Truden
3.0 out of 5 stars A Fairly Interesting Read
Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2013
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I'm not really into African/Black/African Diaspora/18th century history but this guy did some pretty cool things. The language isn't too antiquated either so it's worth your time if you like this period. Definitely more exciting than Frederick Douglass' account.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

jettereader
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent condition
Reviewed in Canada on August 2, 2020
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This book arrived in excellent condition.
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Anonymus
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read
Reviewed in Germany on November 14, 2020
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Equiano's narrative is a must read for anyone interested in the Black Lives Matter movement. The story is gripping and important and the Penguin edition of the text excellent.
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Pay Fen
5.0 out of 5 stars Could be in several different languages apart from English.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 22, 2020
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A very good book! Very informative and useful! Wold be ideal if in universal languages.
One person found this helpful
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Phoebe
5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing autobiography
Reviewed in France on April 20, 2015
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To call Olaudah Equiano's autobiography an "interesting narrative" is an understatement. It is the soberly written but amazing account of his life, first as an African slave in the West Indies, then later on as a well-travelled freeman who became an outspoken opponent of slavery, a public speaker and a writer. Equiano finally settled in eighteenth-century England, where he found a home. His own moral triumph over unspeakably cruel past abuse and over many grievous broken promises is not the least of this remarkable man's achievements. This book is no novel : it has the ring of truth to it. You will find it difficult to put it down once you start reading it.
3 people found this helpful
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Joel
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, eloquently insightful.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 5, 2013
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Perhaps one of the greatest Black Britons, Equiano provides a wholesome view of the slate trade. A must read for those in the history of the slave trade/18th century England.
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