The History of Mary Prince, a West Indian slave / related by herself; with a supplement by the editor; to which is added The narrative of Asa-Asa, a captured African
The History of Mary Prince, a West Indian slave / related by herself; with a supplement by the editor; to which is added The narrative of Asa-Asa, a captured African
1831
Mary Prince; with ed. Thomas Pringle
This book, which quickly ran to three editions, is the first account of a black woman’s life to be published in England. Mary Prince was born into slavery in Bermuda. In 1828, she was brought to England by her Antiguan slaveholders. Shortly thereafter, she claimed her freedom, left their ser vice, and found work with Thomas Pringle (1789 –1834), secretary of the Anti-Slavery Society (founded 1823). Prince’s story of survival in the Caribbean, and her subsequent experiences in England, was transcribed by Susannah Moodie (1803–1885) and edited by Pringle. “I have been a slave myself,” recounted Prince, “I know what slaves feel—I can tell by myself what other slaves feel, and by what they have told me. The man that says slaves be quite happy in slavery— that they don’t want to be free—that man is either ignorant or a lying person. I never heard a slave say so.” The book had an important impact on the continuing abolitionist movement. It is not known whether Prince returned to the Caribbean or remained in England after slavery was ended.
(London: F. Westley and A.H. Davis; Edinburgh: Waugh & Innes, 1831). Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University, Slavery Pamphlets 32
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