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"An important work for gaining an understanding of a heretofore little examined aspect of the eighteenth century." -- Bloomsbury Review
"The selection of texts is diverse and wide-ranging.... The most comprehensive anthology on the subject and deserves to become the standard text for students in eighteenth-century studies and American studies." -- British Journal for Eighteenth-Century Studies
"Establishes the canon of Black diasporic authors writing in English in the 18th century and makes the texts accessible to scholars and students." -- East-Central Intelligencer
"Carretta has done eighteenth-century studies an immeasurable service.... The definitive anthology of black writing of the eighteenth-century African diaspora, serving the purpose of both introduction to and contestation of the overlapping fields of American, British, religious, and African studies." -- Eighteenth-Century Fiction
"Most challenging and exhaustive, both in quality and quantity of research, presentation, scope, and premise. Carretta seeks to validate what for him is an unbroken link of unshackled black literary voices." -- Eighteenth-Century Studies
"This is the most comprehensive collection of writings by people of African descent on both sides of the Atlantic more than 200 years ago." -- Lexington Herald-Leader
"An excellent anthology." -- Times Literary Supplement
"Cause for celebration.... Will no doubt contribute to the ongoing rethinking of the eighteenth-century canon." -- Year's Work in English Studies
| Acknowledgments | ||
| Introduction | 1 | |
| A Note on the Texts and Editorial Policy | 17 | |
| A Note on Money | 18 | |
| Notes on the Illustrations | 19 | |
| Narrative of the Uncommon Sufferings, and Surprizing Deliverance of Briton Hammon, A Negro Man | 20 | |
| Poems: An Evening Thought | 26 | |
| An Address to Miss Phillis Wheatly, Ethiopian Poetess | 26 | |
| A Narrative of the Most Remarkable Particulars in the Life of James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw, An African Prince, As related by Himself | 32 | |
| Poems: An Elegiac Poem, on the Death of ... George Whitefield | 59 | |
| Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral | 59 | |
| "To His Excellency General Washington" | 59 | |
| "An Ode" | 72 | |
| Letters of the Late Ignatius Sancho, an African, in Two Volumes. To Which are Prefixed, Memoirs of his Life | 77 | |
| A Narrative of the Lord's wonderful Dealings with John Marrant, a Black | 110 | |
| The Life and Confession of Johnson Green, Who Is to Be Executed this day, August 17th, 1786, for the Atrocious Crime of Burglary; Together with his Last and Dying Words | 134 | |
| "Petition of an African Slave, to the Legislature of Massachusetts" (1782), from The American Museum, or Repository of Ancient and Modern Fugitive Pieces, Prose and Poetical. For June 1787 | 142 | |
| Thoughts and Sentiments on the Evil and Wicked Traffic of The Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species, Humbly Submitted to the Inhabitants of Great-Britain, By Ottobah Cugoano, a Native of Africa | 145 | |
| The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African. Written by Himself | 185 | |
| Copy of a Letter from Benjamin Banneker to the Secretary of State with his Answer | 319 | |
| "An Account of several Baptist Churches, consisting chiefly of Negro Slaves: particularly of one of Kingston, in Jamaica; and another at Savannah in Georgia" | 325 | |
| "An Account of the Life of Mr. David George, from Sierra Leone in Africa; given by himself in a Conversation with Brother Rippon of London, and Brother Pearce of Birmingham" | 333 | |
| "Memoirs of the Life of Boston King, a Black Preacher. Written by Himself, during his Residence at Kingswood-School" | 351 | |
| A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture, a Native of Africa: But resident above sixty years in the United States of America. Related By Himself | 369 | |
| App: Biographical Sketches | 389 |
Overview