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The slave narrative is generally considered as a literary form which grew out of the experience of enslaved Africans in the New World. Some six thousand former slaves from North America and the Caribbean gave an account of their lives with about 150 published as separate books or pamphlets. They can broadly be categorised into three distinct forms: Tales of religious redemption, Tales to inspire the abolitionist struggle, Tales of progress.

In comparison the Algerine slave narratives were written by white Americans captured and enslaved in North Africa from 1785 to 1810. They have a distinct form in that they generally racialize their captors, whereas the African American slave narratives moralize their oppressors.

1 Tales of Religious Redemption

From the 1770s to the 1820s the slave narratives generally gave an account of a spiritual journey leading to christian redemption. The authors frequently characterised themselves as Africans rather than slaves. These first appeared in England.

Some examples:

A Narrative of the Most remarkable Particulars in the Life of James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw, an African Prince, Bath 1772
The Interesting Narrative and the life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa, the African , London 1789
A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture, a native of Africa: But resident Above Sixty Years in the United State of America by Venture Smith , New London 1798

2 Tales to Inspire the Abolitionist Struggle

From the mid-1820's the genre became much more the conscious use of the autobiographicalFor the album by Ashlee Simpson, see Autobiography (album In a sense, autobiography is a form of biography, the writing of a life story. The difference, of course, is point of view: an autobiography is from the viewpoint of its subject. Biographers genera form to generate enthusiams for the abolitionist struggle. They became more literary in form often with the introduction of fictionalised dialogue. Between 1835 and 1865 over 80 such narratives were published. Recurrent features include: slave auctions, the break of families and frequently two accounts of escapes, one of which is successful.

Some examples:

Life of William Grimes, the Runaway Slave , New YorkNew York is a state in the northeastern United States whose U. postal abbreviation is NY . It is sometimes called New York State when there is need to distinguish it from New York City. History See: History of New York New York was one of the thirteen col 1825Events January 4 King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies dies and is succeeded by his son Francis I of the Two Sicilies. February 9 After no presidential candidate received a majority of electoral votes, the United States House of Representatives elects John
The History of Mary Prince, a West Indian Slave , London 1831Events February- March Revolts in Modena, Parma and the Papal States are put down by Austrian troops February 20 Battle of Grochow. Polish rebel forces divide a Russian army. March 1 Democrat Samuel Smith becomes President Pro Tempore of the United States
Slavery in the United States: A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Charles Ball, A Black Man , Lewistown 1836Events January Book by Maria Monk claims that she was sexually exploited in a Canadian convent February 3 United States Whig Party holds its first convention in Albany, New York. February 23 The siege of the Alamo begins in San Antonio, Texas. February 24
A Narrative of Adventures and Escape of Moses Roper from American Slavery , London 1837Events January 10 DePauw University founded in Greencastle, Indiana January 26 Michigan is admitted as the 26th U. State February 8 Richard Johnson becomes the first Vice President of the United States chosen by the United States Senate February 11 Americ
A Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave , Boston 1845
Narratives of the Sufferings of Lewis and Milton Clarke, Sons of a Soldier of the revolution, during a Captivity of more than Twenty years among the Slaveholders of Kentucky , Boston 1846
Narrative of William Wells Brown, a fugitive Slave , Boston 1847
The Life of Josiah Henson, formerly a Slave, now an Inhabitant of Canada , Boston 1849
Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb, an American Slave , New York 1849
The Fugative Blacksmith, or Events in the History of James W. C. Pennington , London 1849
Twelve years a slave, Narrative of Solomon Northrup Auburn, Buffalo and London 1853
Slave Life in Georgia: A Narrative of the Life, Sufferings and Escape of John Brown , London 1855 BooksEnthsiast.com
The Life of John Thompson, A Fugitive Slave , Worcester, Massachusetts 1855
Running a thousand Miles for Freedom, or the Escape of William and Ellen Craft from Slavery , London 1860
Incidents the Life of a Slave Girl , by Harriet Jacobs, Boston 1861
The Experience of a Slave in South Carolina by John Andrew Jackson , London 1862
Narrative of the Life of J. D. Green, a Runaway Slave from Kentucky , Huddersfield 1864




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