Captain Canot; Or, Twenty Years of an African Slaver presents the memoirs of Theodore Canot, a nineteenth-century adventurer who spent decades in the Atlantic slave trade along the West African coast. Set down with the help of an editor, the narrative recounts his voyages, dealings with coastal traders, and the brutal business of capturing and transporting enslaved people.
As a historical document the book is troubling and valuable in equal measure: it offers a rare insider account of an illegal and inhuman commerce, even as it reflects the self-justifying voice of one of its operators. Modern readers will recognize it as a primary source on the workings and human cost of the slave trade. It is presented here as a free EPUB download for study of this dark chapter of history.