Slave Narrative - North African Slave Narratives

North African Slave Narratives

In comparison to North American and Caribbean slave narratives, the North African slave narratives were written by white Europeans and Americans captured and enslaved in North Africa in the 18th and early 19th centuries. They have a distinct form in that they highlight the otherness of their Islamic enslavers, whereas the African American slave narratives call their fellow Christian enslavers to account.

Some captives used their experiences as a North African slave to criticize slavery in the United States, such as William Ray in his book Horrors of Slavery. Slaves in North African suffered from many of the same conditions as their African counterparts in the United States, including hard labor, poor diet, and demeaning treatment. But, unlike those in America, slaves in North Africa could often escape their condition by converting to Islam and adopting North Africa as their home. Converting to the local religion to attain freedom was, of course, not an option for American slaves.

Examples include:

• The History of the Long Captivity and Adventures of Thomas Pellow, In South Barbary, 1740.
• A Curious, Historical and Entertaining Narrative of the Captivity and almost unheard of Sufferings and Cruel treatment of Mr Robert White, 1790.
• A Short Account of Algiers: Containing a Description of the Climate of that Country, of the Manners and Customs of the Inhabitants, and of their Several Wars Against Spain, France, England, Holland, Venice, and other Powers of Europe, from the Usurpation of Barbarossa and the Invasion of the Emperor Charles V. to the Present Time; with a Concise View of the Origin of the Rupture Between Algiers and the United States, Philadelphia: Printed by J. Parker for M. Carey, No. 118, Market-street, 1794.
• The Algerine Captive, or, The Life and Adventures of Doctor Updike Underhill (pseud.): Six Years a Prisoner among the Algerines, 1797.
• A Journal of the Captivity and Suffering of John Foss; Several Years a Prisoner in Algiers, 1798.
• Narrative of the captivity of Joseph Pitts, among the Algerines, and of his fortunate escape from the Mahometans. Written by himself, 1803.
• Original Account of the Desperate Engagement and Capture of the General Washington, Alexander Boyle, Commander: Which was Attacked by Two Barbary Corsairs, up the Mediterranean; Also the Wreck of one of the Galleys During a Tremendous Storm; the Cruelty of the Pirates, and the Sufferings of Captain Boyle and Crew. Also, the Dreadful Effects of a Hurricane, 1804.
• Horrors of Slavery: or, The American Tars in Tripoli: Containing an Account of the Loss and Capture of the United States Frigate Philadelphia; Treatment and Sufferings of the Prisoners; Description of the Place; Manners, Customs, &c. of the Tripolitans; Public Transactions of the United States with That Regency, Including Gen. Eaton's Expeditions; Interspersed With Interesting Remarks, Anecdotes, and Poetry, On Various Subjects, 1808.
• History of the Captivity and Sufferings of Mrs Maria Martin who was six years a slave in Algiers, 1810
• Ellison, James. The American Captive, Or, Siege of Tripoli: a Drama In Five Acts. Boston: Printed by J. Belcher, 1812.
• History of the Captivity and Sufferings of Mrs Lucinda Martin who was six years a slave in Algiers, 1806
• An Affecting Narrative of the Captivity And Sufferings of Thomas Nicholson: (a Native of New Jersey,) who has been Six Years a Prisoner among the Algerines, and from whom he Fortunately Made his Escape a few Months Previous to Commodore Decatur's Late Expedition. To Which is added, a Concise Description of Algiers, of the Customs, Manners, &c of the Natives -- And Some Particulars of Commodore Decatur's Late Expedition, against the Barbary Powers, 1815.
• The Narrative of Robert Adams, An American Sailor who was wrecked on the West Coast of Africa in the year 1810; was detained Three Years in Slavery by the Arabs of the Great Desert, 1816.
• A Journal, Comprising an Account of the Loss of the Brig Commerce, of Hartford, (Con.): James Riley, Master, upon the Western Coast of Africa, August 28th, 1815; Also of the Slavery and Sufferings of the Author and the Rest of the Crew, Upon the Desert Zahara, in the Years 1815, 1816, 1817; With Accounts of the Mannaers, Customs, and Habits of the Wandering Arabs; Also, a Brief Historical and Geographical View of the Continent of Africa, 1817.
• A Narrative of the Shipwreck of the Ship Oswego, on the Coast of South Barbary: And of the Sufferings of the Master and the Crew while in Bondage among the Arabs; Interspersed with Numerous Remarks upon the Country and its Inhabitants, and Concerning the Peculiar Perils of that Coast, 1818.
• An Authentic Narrative of the Loss of the American Brig Commerce, Wrecked on the Western Coast of Africa, in the Month of August, 1815: With an Account of the Sufferings of the Surviving Officers And Crew, Who Were Enslaved by the Wandering Arabs, on the African Desert, or Zahahrah; And Observations Historical, Geographical, &c. Made During the Travels of the Author, while a Slave to the Arabs, and in the Empire of Morocco, 1818.
• An Authentic Narrative of the Shipwreck and Sufferings of Mrs. Eliza Bradley, Wife of Captain James Bradley of Liverpool, Commander of the Ship Sally, which was Wrecked on the Coast of Barbary In June 1818 (American ed.). Boston: Printed for J. Walden, 1823.