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The History of Mary Prince, a West Indian Slave

by Mary Prince (?–1833)

  • Free to read
  • 2 hours to read
  • 4 chapters
  • Reading level: 7th grade

"The History of Mary Prince, a West Indian Slave" by Mary Prince is a historical account written in the early 19th century. This narrative, one of the first autobiographies by a Black woman in the British empire, details Prince's harrowing experiences as a slave in the Caribbean. It addresses themes of the brutal realities of slavery, the bonds of family, and the quest for freedom, centering around Prince's own traumatic life story. The opening of the narrative begins with Mary Prince recounting her early life in Bermuda, where she was born into slavery. She describes her initial happiness as a young girl cared for by a kind mistress, contrasted sharply with the harsh realities that would soon follow her separation from family and the progression of abuse she faced from various slave owners. As she is passed from one master to another, Prince's stories evoke intense emotions as they highlight the systemic cruelty of slavery—enduring brutal whippings, being sold away from her family, and witnessing the suffering of fellow slaves. Her narrative serves as a powerful testimony to the resilience of the human spirit amidst dehumanizing circumstances, setting the tone for the rest of her account as she strives for recognition of her humanity and the quest for freedom.

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  • Slavery · West Indies
  • Prince, Mary
  • Fugitive slaves · West Indies · Biography

Read the opening

Tho. Pringle

7, Solly Terrace, Claremont Square,

January 25, 1831.

P. S. Since writing the above, I have been furnished by my friend Mr. George Stephen, with the interesting narrative of Asa-Asa, a captured African, now under his protection; and have printed it as a suitable appendix to this little history.

T. P.

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Contents

  1. Preface
  2. Tho. Pringle
  3. The History of Mary Prince, a West Indian Slave
  4. A Captured African

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About this edition

This free edition of The History of Mary Prince, a West Indian Slave by Mary Prince comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #17851, released 2006-02-24. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Biographies, History - British, History - Modern (1750+).

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).