Equiano's autobiography tells the story of his life before, during and after enslavement, and is considered to have established the slave narrative as a new literary genre. Born in a village in West Africa, Equiano was captured and enslaved at the age of 11, taken to the West Indies and sold to a Virginia planter. Later brought to London, he was able to buy his freedom at the age of 40 after time spent at sea. This edition is that of the 1789 first edition and is accompanied here by an introduction, map, illustrations and annotations. The "Contexts" section provides related public writings on the autobiography, historical background and works debating the slave trade. "Criticism" includes six contemporary reviews and nine modern essays on the narrative.