Rediscovered after 200 years, "The Woman of Colour: A Tale," is a landmark in the history of Black representation in British literature. Possibly written by a woman of color, the novel focuses on the experiences of Olivia, a free biracial young woman born in Jamaica to an English slave owner and an enslaved black woman of royal descent. Having lost both of her parents, Olivia is heading towards England to marry a stranger due to the terms of her father's will. What she encounters once in England is rather different than the open-minded, civilized nation she had been taught to expect. Through her eyes, the anonymous author provides a compelling depiction of English racial prejudices and makes a case for moving beyond the abolition of the English slave trade (ended in 1807) towards the abolition of slavery per se. I originally made this video for my undergraduate course ENL 3235: The English Novel in Context.
