The Cambridge Companion to the African American Slave Narrative (Cambridge Companions to Literature)

The slave narrative has become a crucial genre within African American literary studies and an invaluable record of the experience and history of slavery in the United States. This Companion examines the slave narrative's relation to British and American abolitionism, Anglo-American literary traditions such as autobiography and sentimental literature, and the larger African American literary tradition. Special attention is paid to leading exponents of the genre such as Olaudah Equiano, Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs, as well as many other, less well known examples. Further essays explore the rediscovery of the slave narrative and its subsequent critical reception, as well as the uses to which the genre is put by modern authors such as Toni Morrison. With its chronology and guide to further reading, the Companion provides both an easy entry point for students new to the subject and comprehensive coverage and original insights for scholars in the field. This Companion Examines The Slave Narrative's Relation To Transatlantic Abolitionism, British And American Literary Traditions Including Captivity Narratives, Autobiography, And Sentimental Literature, And The Larger African American Literary Tradition. The Volume Also Explores The History Of The Genre, Including Its Rediscovery And Authentication, Its Subsequent Critical Reception, And Its Continued Importance To Modern Authors Such As Toni Morrison And Edward P. Jones. Attention Is Paid Both To Well-known Slave Narratives, Such As Those By Olaudah Equiano, Frederick Douglass And Harriet Jacobs, And To A Wide Range Of Lesser-known Narratives. With Its Chronology And Guide To Further Reading, The Companion Provides Both An Easy Entry Point For Students New To The Subject And Comprehensive Coverage And Original Insights For Scholars In The Field.--jacket. Pt. I. The Slave Narrative And Transnational Abolitionism. The Rise, Development, And Circulation Of The Slave Narrative / Philip Gould ; Politics And Political Philosophy In The Slave Narrative / Dickson D. Bruce, Jr. ; Olaudah Equiano : African British Abolitionist And Founder Of The African American Slave Narrative / Vincent Carretta ; The Slave Narrative And The Literature Of Abolition / Kerry Sinanan -- Pt. Ii. The Slave Narrative And Anglo-american Literary Traditions. Redeeming Bondage : The Captivity Narrative And The Spiritual Autobiography In The African American Slave Narrative Tradition / Yolanda Pierce ; The Slave Narrative And The Revolutionary Tradition Of American Autobiography / Robert S. Levine ; The Slave Narrative And Sentimental Literature / Cindy Weinstein -- Pt. Iii. The Slave Narrative And The African American Literary Tradition. The Slave Narrative And Early Black American Literature / Robert F. Reid-pharr ; Telling Slavery In Freedom's Time : Post-reconstruction And The Harlem Renaissance / Deborah E. Mcdowell ; Neo-slave Narratives / Valerie Smith -- Pt. Iv. The Slave Narrative And The Politics Of Knowledge. Harriet Jacobs : A Case History Of Authentication / Stephanie A. Smith ; Frederick Douglass's Self-fashioning And The Making Of A Representative American Man / John Stauffer ; Beyond Douglass And Jacobs / John Ernest ; Black Womanhood In North American Women's Slave Narratives / Xiomara Santamarina. Edited By Audrey Fisch. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. THE CAMBRIDGE COMPANION TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN SLAVE NARRATIVE......Page 2 Contents......Page 8 List of contributors......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 13 Chronology......Page 14 Introduction......Page 22 1 The rise, development, and circulation of the slave narrative......Page 30 2 Politics and political philosophy in the slave narrative......Page 47 3 Olaudah Equiano: African British abolitionist and founder of the African American slave narrative......Page 63 4 The slave narrative and the literature of abolition......Page 80 5 Redeeming bondage: the captivity narrative and the spiritual autobiography in the African American slave narrative tradition......Page 100 6 The slave narrative and the revolutionary tradition of American autobiography......Page 116 7 The slave narrative and sentimental literature......Page 132 8 The slave narrative and early Black American literature......Page 152 9 Telling slavery in “freedom’s” time: post-Reconstruction and the Harlem Renaissance......Page 165 10 Neo-slave narratives......Page 183 11 Harriet Jacobs: a case history of authentication......Page 202 12 Frederick Douglass’s self-fashioning and the making of a Representative American man......Page 214 13 Beyond Douglass and Jacobs......Page 231 14 Black womanhood in North American women’s slave narratives......Page 245 Guide to further reading......Page 259 Index......Page 272