Description

Phillis Wheatley (c. 1753–1784) was an American freed slave and poet who wrote the first book of poetry by an African-American. Sold into slavery in West Africa at the age of around seven, she was taken to North America, where she served the Wheatley family of Boston. Phillis was tutored in reading and writing by Mary, the Wheatleys’ 18-year-old daughter, and was reading Latin and Greek classics from the age of twelve. Encouraged by the progressive Wheatleys who recognised her incredible literary talent, she wrote “To the University of Cambridge” when she was 14. By 20 had found patronage in Selina Hastings, countess of Huntingdon. Her works garnered acclaim in both England and the colonies, and she became the first African American to make a living as a poet. This volume contains a fantastic collection of assorted writings by various authors on the subject of Wheatley, exploring her interesting life and influential work. Contents include: “Introduction from Memoir and Poems of Phillis Wheatley, 1834”, “Letter from George Washington to Phillis”, “An Address to Miss Phillis Wheatley by Jupiter Hammon”, “A Memoir from Memoir and Poems of Phillis Wheatley, 1834”, “Phillis Wheatley by William Wells Brown”, “Phillis Wheatley by L. Maria Child”, “Phillis Wheatley by A. Mott And M. S. Wood”, “An Excerpt by George Washington Williams”, “Phillis Wheatley by Benjamin Griffith Brawley”, “Jupiter Hammon and Phillis Wheatley by Robert Thomas Kerlin”, etc. Brilliant Women are proudly publishing this brand new collection of classic essays and excerpts for a new generation of readers.