The History of Mary Prince, a West Indian Slave

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

17851

Title

The History of Mary Prince, a West Indian Slave

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A harrowing first-person account of slavery in the West Indies and Britain, Mary Prince's narrative exposes the brutal separation of families, physical abuse, and dehumanization inherent in the institution. Edited by Thomas Pringle and supplemented by the editor's notes and the testimony of a captured African, this 1831 text serves as a powerful abolitionist appeal, urging readers to recognize the humanity of enslaved people and the moral bankruptcy of the system that treats them as property.

Summary up to 500 words

Published in 1831, *The History of Mary Prince, a West Indian Slave* stands as a harrowing autobiographical account by Mary Prince, an enslaved woman from Bermuda. The narrative, edited by Thomas Pringle, chronicles Prince's life from her innocent childhood on a farm, where she was cherished by her mistress, Miss Betsey Williams, to the brutal reality of slavery. Her early happiness is shattered when her mistress dies, leading her owner to sell Prince and her siblings to fund a wedding. Prince vividly describes the agonizing market scene where she is displayed like livestock, separated from her mother and siblings, and the terror of being transported to England. Despite finding some kindness from Quaker friends and employers in London, she remains haunted by the trauma of separation and the constant threat of violence. The text includes Pringle's preface, which contextualizes the narrative within the abolitionist movement, details the legal struggles to secure her freedom, and addresses counter-arguments from slave owners. A significant supplement features the narrative of Louis Asa-Asa, a captured African who escaped the slave trade, providing a comparative perspective on the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade and the destruction of African communities. Through their testimonies, the book argues that slavery is a system of profound evil that strips individuals of their dignity, liberty, and family, appealing directly to the conscience of the British public to end the practice. Prince's testimony directly refutes the pro-slavery claim that enslaved people are content, asserting that all slaves desire freedom and that the system degrades both the enslaved and the enslaver. The work serves as a powerful moral indictment, urging the British public to recognize the iniquity of colonial slavery and to demand its abolition.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Biography
• History
• Slavery