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setlledbullet9's review against another edition
challenging
lighthearted
slow-paced
2.5
Interesting to see into a free black Englishman of the 18th century’s letters, but not a fun read at all
mrswythe89's review against another edition
3.0
Sancho is a really entertaining writer but I wish the ebook had had more footnotes! It got super confusing when everybody was Mr M-- and Miss C-- and it was never explained who was who or why he was writing to them.
I was also wondering whether his excessively complimentary style was because he really thought everybody he was writing to was awesome, or because that's just how friends wrote to each other in the 1700s, or whether that's what worked for him considering the position and society he was in.
The most interesting letters were the ones he wrote to the young black guy who was "adopted" and spoilt by the Marquess of something or other, and who was very talented but super wild, and was sent out to India to make a fresh start.
ETA: I didn't actually read the Penguin classics edition. That probably would have helped! I read the free Kindle Classics version with no modern foreword or anything.
I was also wondering whether his excessively complimentary style was because he really thought everybody he was writing to was awesome, or because that's just how friends wrote to each other in the 1700s, or whether that's what worked for him considering the position and society he was in.
The most interesting letters were the ones he wrote to the young black guy who was "adopted" and spoilt by the Marquess of something or other, and who was very talented but super wild, and was sent out to India to make a fresh start.
ETA: I didn't actually read the Penguin classics edition. That probably would have helped! I read the free Kindle Classics version with no modern foreword or anything.
eschxton's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
3.0
Interesting to read primary texts by a Black man living in England, but god. The 18th century is not for me.
andrewfontenelle's review against another edition
5.0
Ignatius Sancho is a rather interesting character from Georgian Britain. Born a slave, Sancho moved in the elite circles of the times and ran his own London based business. He composed music, appeared on stage and is believed to be the first Black Briton to have cast a vote in a British election becoming a symbol for those involved in the anti-slavery movement.
This book includes his memoirs together with the many letters that were written by him during his lifetime and first published in 1782. This work provides the reader with an insight into the mind and thoughts of an eminent Black Briton.
This book includes his memoirs together with the many letters that were written by him during his lifetime and first published in 1782. This work provides the reader with an insight into the mind and thoughts of an eminent Black Briton.
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