The Fortunes of Francis Barber : The True Story of the Jamaican Slave Who Became Samuel Johnson's Heir / Michael Bundock.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bundock, Michael, Author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784--Friends and associates.

Johnson, Samuel.

Barber, Frank, -1801.

Barber, Frank.

Enslaved persons--Great Britain--Biography.

Enslaved persons.

Literature and society--England--History--18th century.

Literature and society.

Black people--England--History--18th century.

Black people.

London (England)--Intellectual life--18th century.

London (England).

Genre:

Biographies.

History.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (296 p.)

Place of Publication:

New Haven, CT : Yale University Press, [2015]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The story of the extraordinary relationship between a former slave and England's most distinguished man of letters This compelling book chronicles a young boy's journey from the horrors of Jamaican slavery to the heart of London's literary world, and reveals the unlikely friendship that changed his life. Francis Barber, born in Jamaica, was brought to London by his owner in 1750 and became a servant in the household of the renowned Dr. Samuel Johnson. Although Barber left London for a time and served in the British navy during the Seven Years' War, he later returned to Johnson's employ. A fascinating reversal took place in the relationship between the two men as Johnson's health declined and the older man came to rely more and more upon his now educated and devoted companion. When Johnson died he left the bulk of his estate to Barber, a generous (and at the time scandalous) legacy, and a testament to the depth of their friendship. There were thousands of black Britons in the eighteenth century, but few accounts of their lives exist. In uncovering Francis Barber's story, this book not only provides insights into his life and Samuel Johnson's but also opens a window onto London when slaves had yet to win their freedom.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

1. The House in Gough Square

2. "The Dunghill of the Universe"

3. A New Name

4. Johnson

5. Servant or Slave?

6. An Apothecary in Cheapside

7. The Stag

8. "A Race Naturally Inferior"

9. "This Is Your Scholar!"

10. Slavery on Trial

11. "Nobody but Frank"

12. Hawkins v. Barber

13. Lichfield

14. Afterlives

Acknowledgments

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 29. Feb 2020)

ISBN:

0-300-21390-5

OCLC:

904281197