This textbook has been designed to confront a central issue in the study of 19th-century Afro-American literature - the question of how to analyse and evaluate the autobiographical tradition of ex-slaves.
These autobiographies of Afro-American ex-slaves comprise the largest body of literature produced by slaves in human history. The book consists of three sections: selected reviews of slave narratives, dating from 1750 to 1861; essays examining how such narratives serve as historical material; and essays exploring the narratives as literary artifacts.
`The Slave's Narrative is the most sophisticated and comprehensive book we have yet on the central issue facing students of 19th Century Afro-American literature: the question of how to analyse and evaluate the autobiographical tradition of ex-slaves. ...it is unlikely that any single collection of essays could do greater justice than The Slave's Tale has to the breadth, vitality, and untapped potential of this topic and the discourse it has generated.'William L. Andrews, University of Wisconsin, (BALF Spring/Summer 1986)
