The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African / Written By Himself (Olaudah Equiano)

Strange book. I later read that some of the story is disputed, for example, there are some records where he indicated he was born in the USA. In any case, he had a very interesting life indeed.

He only came to be an abolitionist late in life. The parts of the story where he works in ships that are transporting slaves for sale are a little unexpected.

Neighing sea horses, really?

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Quotes:

O, ye nominal Christians! might not an African ask you, learned you this from your God, who says unto you, Do unto all men as you would men should do unto you?

cheering myself with the reflection that there was a time allotted for me to die as well as to be born, I instantly cast off all fear or thought whatever of death, and went through the whole of my duty with alacrity; pleasing myself with the hope, if I survived the battle, of relating it and the dangers I had escaped

I had a mind on which every thing uncommon made its full impression, and every event which I considered as marvellous. Every extraordinary escape, or signal deliverance, either of myself or others, I looked upon to be effected by the interposition of Providence.

I grant, indeed, that slaves are some times, by half-feeding, half-clothing, over-working and stripes, reduced so low, that they are turned out as unfit for service, and left to perish in the woods, or expire on a dunghill.

the whole term of a negro's life may be said to be there but sixteen years!

It was very common in several of the islands, particularly in St. Kitt's, for the slaves to be branded with the initial letters of their master's name; and a load of heavy iron hooks hung about their necks. Indeed on the most trifling occasions they were loaded with chains; and often instruments of torture were added. The iron muzzle, thumb-screws, &c. are so well known, as not to need a description, and were sometimes applied for the slightest faults. I have seen a negro beaten till some of his bones were broken, for even letting a pot boil over.

But had the cruel man struck me I certainly should have defended myself at the hazard of my life; for what is life to a man thus oppressed?

any person in whose custody a bible was found concealed was to be imprisoned and flogged, and sent into slavery for ten years.

One morning we had vast quantities of sea-horses about the ship, which neighed exactly like any other horses.

I found none among the circle of my acquaintance that kept wholly the ten commandments. So righteous was I in my own eyes, that I was convinced I excelled many of them in that point, by keeping eight out of ten;