Book description
The History of Mary Prince (1831) was the first narrative of a black
woman to be published in Britain. It describes Prince's sufferings as a
slave in Bermuda, Turks Island and Antigua, and her eventual arrival in
London with her brutal owner Mr Wood in 1828. Prince escaped from him
and sought assistance from the Anti-Slavery Society, where she dictated
her remarkable story to Susanna Strickland (later Moodie). A moving and
graphic document, The History drew attention to the continuation of
slavery in the Caribbean, despite an 1807 Act of Parliament officially
ending the slave trade. It inspired two libel actions and ran into three
editions in the year of its publication. This powerful rallying cry for
emancipation remains an extraordinary testament to Prince's
ill-treatment, suffering and survival.
Mary Prince (1788-1826) was born a slave in Bermuda. In 1815 she was
sold to John Wood and taken to Antigua. Here she met Daniel James, a
freeman, whom she married in 1826. In 1828, Prince was taken to
England and claiming that the Woods had mistreated her she was
allowed, under English law, to exercise her right to freedom and found
employment as a domestic servant. Her story was published in 1831 and
led to two libel trials.
Sara Salih is Assistant Professor in English at the University of
Toronto. She is the author of Judith Butler (Routledge 2002), and the
editor, with Judith Butler, of The Judith Butler Reader (Blackwell,
2004). She is currently working on a book about representations of
'brown' women in England and Jamaica from the eighteenth century to
the present day.
Sara Salih is lecturer in English at Wadham College, Oxford.
Sara Salih is Assistant Professor in English at the University of
Toronto. She is the author of Judith Butler (Routledge 2002), and the
editor, with Judith Butler, of The Judith Butler Reader (Blackwell,
2004). She is currently working on a book about representations of
'brown' women in England and Jamaica from the eighteenth century to
the present day.
