First published 1991
Henry Louis Gates presents the most extensive collection of autobiographical writing by enslaved people ever assembled. Gates divides his analysis into three distinct approaches. First, he gathers critical reviews of slave narratives spanning over a century, from 1750 through 1861. Next, he examines these personal accounts as valuable historical sources, showing how former slaves documented their experiences for posterity. Finally, he treats the narratives as works of literature, analyzing their artistic merit and narrative techniques. Gates argues that these autobiographies represent an unparalleled body of testimony about slavery from those who lived it. The book reveals how former slaves used writing to reclaim their voices and challenge dominant historical accounts of their bondage.
Genres: biography, historical, american, african-american, criticism, 19th-century, african-american-historical-fiction, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: first-person-narrative, historical-account
Period: 1750-1861
384 pages · Paperback · Oxford University Press
Content warnings: slavery