The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, the African

“The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, Written by Himself.”

Equiano’s title, including his self-identification with both European and African names as well as his decision to style himself as an African, highlights his efforts to construct an identity rooted in two cultures, but one that relies most heavily on his identity as an African. The doubled naming is his first effort to use his connections to two cultures as a source of authority as a writer.

“Behold, God is my salvation: I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. And in that shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people.—Isaiah 12:2–4.”

The inclusion of the Bible scripture highlights other sources of Equiano’s authority as an author, namely his Christian faith and the requirement that Christians share the Christian gospel. Including the scripture helps build connections with Christian readers and anticipates the impact of the Christian conversion narrative on rhetorical choices he makes later in the text.

“To the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Commons of the Parliament

of Great Britain:

My Lords and Gentlemen,

Permit me, with the greatest deference and respect, to lay at your feet the following genuine Narrative; the chief design of which is to excite in your august assemblies a sense of compassion for the miseries which the Slave Trade has entailed on my unfortunate countrymen. By the horrors of that trade was I first torn away from all the tender connections that were naturally dear to my heart; but these, through the mysterious ways of Providence, I ought to regard as infinitely more than compensated by the introduction I have thence obtained to the knowledge of the Christian religion, and of a nation which, by its liberal sentiments, its humanity, the glorious freedom of its government, and its proficiency in arts and sciences, has exalted the dignity of human nature.”

Equiano published his work using a common subscription model in which benefactors who wanted to read his work would advance the funds in part or in whole needed to get a publisher to print a work. The voluminous list of subscribers is evidence of the importance of Equiano’s work, while the inclusion of authorities like lords, bishops, and well-known abolitionists like Sharp lends credibility to Equiano. Equiano needs such credibility in order to gain a platform not usually granted to people of color on the issue of slavery.