Autobiography of a Slave Autobiografia de un esclavo (English and Spanish Edition) - Softcover

Manzano, Juan Francisco

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0814325386 ISBN 13: 9780814325384

Publisher: Wayne State University Press, 1996

Synopsis

Juan Francisco Manzano (1797-1854), an urban slave who taught himself to read and write, and who ultimately achieved fame as a poet in Cuba's colonial slave society, wrote the only known autobiographical account of Latin American slavery. His narrative, composed in two parts, is a heart-rending history of the systematic, unrelenting destruction of human dignity and individual will. It bears the marks of slavery, not merely by virtue of the countless oppressive autobiographical events and the cruel punishments that are narrated, but also because of its unorthodox syntax and orthography in the original manuscript, and the destruction of the second half of Manzano's history which "disappeared" mysteriously during his lifetime and has never surfaced since. In this first bilingual edition of the volume, Evelyn Picon Garfield provides a careful translation of Manzano's somber narration. Ivan Schulman introduces the text to place it in historical and cultural context.

About this title

Book Description:

A heart-rendering history of the systematic, unrelenting destruction of human dignity and individual will.

From the Back Cover:

In this first bilingual edition of the volume, Evelyn Picon Garfield provides a careful translation of Manzano's somber narration. Ivan Schulman introduces the text to place it in historical and cultural context. The Autobiography of a Slave makes available a major literary text and important social document, one that will contribute to the growing interest in Latin American slave societies and African Diaspora history and culture.

About this edition

• Publisher: Wayne State University Press
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0814325386
• ISBN 13: 9780814325384
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 136