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    • Publisher:
      Cambridge University Press
      Publication date:
      05 October 2010
      24 October 2005
      ISBN:
      9780511614798
      9780521842846
      9780521603737
      Dimensions:
      (228 x 152 mm)
      Weight & Pages:
      0.463kg, 252 Pages
      Dimensions:
      (228 x 152 mm)
      Weight & Pages:
      0.35kg, 252 Pages
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    Book description

    First published in London in 1816, The Narrative of Robert Adams is an account of the adventures of Robert Adams, an African American seaman who survives shipwreck, slavery, and brutal efforts to convert him to Islam, before being ransomed to the British consul. In London, Adams is discovered by the Company of Merchants Trading which publishes his story, into which Adams inserts a fantastical account of a trip to Timbuctoo. Adams's story is accompanied by contemporary essays and notes that place his experience in the context of European exploration of Africa at the time, and weigh his credibility against other contemporary accounts. Professor Adams's introduction examines Adams's credibility in light of modern knowledge of Africa and discusses the significance of his story in relation to the early nineteenth century interest in Timbuctoo, and to the literary genres of the slave narrative and the Barbary Captivity narrative.

    Reviews

    'From an Africanist point of view the book's strengths lie rather in the fact that it assembles not only the original text, … but also two contemporary essays published in the North American Review the following year. The book is enjoyable to read, the preface includes useful background information, and the index is helpful.'

    Source: The Journal of African History

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    Contents

    Bibliography
    PRIMARY WORKS CITED
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