Overview

A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture (1798) is an autobiography by Venture Smith. Written while Smith was living in freedom on his own farm in Connecticut, A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture is recognized by scholars as a pioneering work of African American nonfiction and one of the earliest known slave narratives in American history. Born the son of Saugnm Furro, a prince of Dukandarra, Smith was captured as a boy and sold into slavery on the Gold Coast of Africa. Brought to Barbados by way of the Middle Passage, Smith was eventually sold to Robinson Mumford, a landowner from Rhode Island. Upon arrival in the British colony, Smith was put to work in the Mumford household, gaining the trust of his enslaver while enduring the abuses of Mumford's young son. At 22, he married Meg, a fellow enslaved woman, and was soon swept up in an escape attempt with an Irish indentured servant. Betrayed at Montauk Point by the Irishman, Smith was forced to capture him and return to Rhode Island, where he was sold to Thomas Stanton in Connecticut. Separated from his wife and daughter, subjected to worse abuses than before, Smith sought to gain his freedom by any means necessary. This edition of Venture Smith's A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture is a classic of African American literature reimagined for modern readers. Since our inception in 2020, Mint Editions has kept sustainability and innovation at the forefront of our mission. Each and every Mint Edition title gets a fresh, professionally typeset manuscript and a dazzling new cover, all while maintaining the integrity of the original book. With thousands of titles in our collection, we aim to spotlight diverse public domain works to help them find modern audiences. Mint Editions celebrates a breadth of literary works, curated from both canonical and overlooked classics from writers around the globe.

Full Product Details

9798888974513

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

Venture Smith (1729-1805) was an African American writer and former slave. Born Broteer Furro in West Africa, Smith was stolen at the age of six and sold into slavery on the Gold Coast. Purchased by Robinson Mumford of Rhode Island for several gallons of rum and a length of calico, he was renamed “Venture” and put to work at his enslaver’s home. Tortured from a young age by Mumford’s son, Smith attempted to escape in 1754 but was forced to return soon thereafter. Sold to Thomas Stanton in Connecticut, Smith was separated from his wife Meg and daughter Hannah. Abused by Stanton and his brother, Smith forced them to sell him to a slaveowner who would allow him to work for his freedom. In 1765, Smith paid 71 pounds to liberate himself from Oliver Smith, later settling on Long Island and working to pay for his family to join him. Written while Smith was living on his own farm along the Salmon River in Connecticut, A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture (1798) is a groundbreaking work of African American autobiography that has been recognized by scholars as one of the first of its kind by a formerly enslaved person.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available