1. Olaudah Equiano (1745-1797)

2. Olaudah Equiano  Among the tradition of slave narratives, Equiano's is considered a remarkable achievement since the autobiographical style was not a well-developed genre in the eighteenth century.  His narrative has vivid and concrete details and is written in the picaresque style.  Equiano also provides a detailed account of his kidnapping, his trek through the jungles, his arrival at the sea coast, and the arduous crossing of the Atlantic in the belly of a slave ship.

3. Olaudah Equiano  Kidnapped from his African (Nigeria) village at age 11  Spent some time in the West Indies  Sold to a Virginia planter  Bought by a British naval Officer, Captain Pascal

4. Olaudah Equiano  After ten years of enslavement, bought his freedom.  In 1789 at age 44,he wrote and published his strongly abolitionist autobiography: The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African. Written by Himself  One of the first works written in English by a former slave.  The book became a bestseller and, as well as furthering the anti-slavery cause, made Equiano a wealthy man

5. Olaudah Equiano  Slave Narrative Slavery Escape Freedom  Spiritual Autobiography Sin Conversion Spiritual rebirth Spiritual autobiography 3-part structure was used to form the new genre of the slave narrative.

6. Olaudah Equiano