The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano with Robert Allison

Join the Bidwell House Museum on June 4th at 11 a.m. for the first lecture in our 2022 Summer History Talk series. We begin with Suffolk University Professor Robert Allison who will talk about the Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano.

Olaudah Equiano, also known as Gustavus Vassa, wrote one of the most extraordinary, and best-selling, books of the 18th century. It was the story of his life, which took him from West Africa to the West Indies, and to England, the Mediterranean, and the Arctic in a time of war and revolution. Professor Allison has edited the most recent edition of Equiano’s Interesting Narrative. He will discuss Equiano’s life, his reasons for writing his book, the mysterious controversy of Equiano’s origins (was he born in Africa or in America?) and why his life continues to matter.

Robert Allison is a professor at Suffolk University in Boston, and also teaches in the Harvard Extension School. His main interest in teaching and writing is American history. In addition to being president of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, he also chairs Revolution 250, a consortium of organizations planning commemorations of the Revolution’s 250th anniversaries, is a life-trustee of the USS CONSTITUTION Museum, and is involved with other history organizations.

This lecture will be held at the Tyringham Union Church at 128 Main Rd in Tyringham. This will be an in-person lecture, with the option to also watch a livestream via Zoom. All Zoom participants will receive a link to access the lecture a couple of days in advance.

This program is sponsored in part by grants from the Monterey, Tyringham and Sandisfield Cultural Councils, a local agency which is sponsored by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.