The Life of Olaudah Equiano: Preface Summary & Analysis

The preface, anonymously written for the 1814 edition of the book, lists the names of subscribers to the book’s first edition, that is, those who had paid in advance to be fund its publication. Since the book’s story was true, it sparked readers’ compassion more than an address in government would have done. Many other people, though, tried to cast doubt on Equiano’s character, arguing that he was born in the West Indies, not in Africa.

The preface also notes that some people objected to Equiano’s Calvinist religion, and others argued that his opinions should be discounted because, as an African, he would simply parrot the opinions of others. Yet another objection is that it’s written too well and therefore Equiano must have had some help. After dismissing these claims, the preface writer expresses a wish that Equiano had lived to see the bill for the abolition of the slave trade get passed in March 1807—a bill that Equiano helped to bring about.