The History of Mary Prince: A West Indian Slave

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1830

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Study Guide

Before You Read Beta

Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Preface

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Key Figures

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

The History of Mary Prince was compiled by and includes the voices of many other people in addition to Prince. Who are those other participants? What do you think is the effect of this polyvocality on Prince’s status as author?

The cover page of the 1831 Westley and Davis edition of the book includes a portion of the 1788 poem “The Negro’s Complaint” by British poet William Cowper as an epigraph. Find the poem online and explain how its tone and images relate to the content of the book. How would they have prepared the reader for the book’s content in the 1830s?

Compare and contrast Prince’s experiences with the Williamses to her time with the Woods. What does each context reveal about Prince and about enslavement?