View source for Olaudah Equiano: The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, 1789

Olaudah Equiano (c. 1745 – 31 March 1797), also known as Gustavus Vassa, was a prominent African involved in the British movement towards the abolition of the slave trade.<ref>Accessed from Wikipedia, January 13, 2012.</ref>


His autobiography depicted the horrors of slavery and helped influence British lawmakers to abolish the slave trade through the Slave Trade Act of 1807.[3] 


Despite his enslavement as a young man, Equiano purchased his freedom and worked as an author, merchant and explorer in South America, the Caribbean, the Arctic, the American colonies, and the United Kingdom.


Director's Note: Jonathan Ned Katz was told that this autobiography of an African man includes a description of Equiano's romantic friendship with another man. Will you read this book and tell us more, and provide selected quotes and citations?


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==Publication History==
''The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African.'' First publication: 1789. <Where and by who?>

First American printing:1791. <Where and by who?>

Republished in England: 1814. <Where and by who?>

Abridged edition published in 1829 as prize for children in New York City's Free African Schools. <Where and by who?>

Reprinted in 1837 by Isaac Knapp. <Where?>  

Modern edition ed. by Robert J. Allison. <Pub data?> 

Edition in Classic Slave Narratives edited by Gates.

{{RR}} The above bibliography needs all the publication data. It would also be interesting to have the basic biographical data on the author in an entry.


==Categories==
[[Category:African, male]]
[[Category:Equiano,Olaudah (also known as Gustavus Vassa), d. 1797]]
[[Category:1789 events]]
[[Category:1791 events]]
[[Category:1814 events]]
[[Category:1829 events]]
[[Category:1837 events]]