James G. BASKER American Antislavery Literature, 1688 to 1865: An Introduction This essay examines the evolution of American antislavery literature. It shows that arguments against slavery had been circulating in the colonies since the end of the 17th century. Between 1688 and 1865, there were thousands of separately published titles, including works in every genre, from poems and novels, to slave narratives and children's books. The essay argues as well that for all their historical impor- tance, many antislavery writings also have interest in their own as works of literature. Looking at the history and the evolution of these writings the essay shows how a first, primarily religious type of writing was replaced, after 1775, by a more secular, more literary and more nationalistic mode of writing, followed by a great surge in antislavery writing after 1820, with poetry or slave narratives assum- importance years.1.820 to 1850. And,it is antisl.avery writ- mg m all its forms and media which condmoned many Americans to view slavery as the essential issue at stake in the war that ensued. The essay concludes on the fact that the continued need for antislavery writing speaks to a painful truth: it was not slavery that was extraordinary, but rather the idea of freedom as the natural condi- tion and universal right of mankind that marked a revolutionary turn. Cet article analyse /'evolution de la litterature americaine anti-esclavagiste. II montre que les arguments opposes a l' esclavage circulaient de;l1. dans /es colonies a la fin du XVII• siecle. Entre 1688 et 1865, des mi/liers de textes sont pub/ies, dans tous /es genres possibles, de la pqesie ou des romans aux recits d'esclaves ou aux /ivres pour enfants. Cet article souligne en outre qu'au.dela .de leur importance historique nombre de textes anti-esclavagistes ont ega/ement un interet comme reuvres de litterature. Considerant l'histoire et /'evolution de ces ecrits, cet article montre qu'un premier type d'ecrits, principa/ement religieux, a ete remp/ace, apres 177 5, par des textes moins re/igieux, plus litteraires et plus nationalistes aussi. Apres 1820, un tres grand nombre d'ecrits anti-esclavagistes voient le jour, la poesie ou /es recits d'esclaves prenant une place de plus en plus importante entre 1820 et 1850. Et ce sont ces ecrits, sous toutes leurs formes, qui ont conduit un grand nombre d' Americains a considerer que /' esclavage etait l'enjeu principal de la guerre civi/e. /}article conclut en insistant sur le fait que, apres la guerre, le besoin d'ecrits anti-esc/avagistes a continue a etre ressenti: ce n'etait done pas l'esclavage qui etait extraordinaire, mais plutot l'idee de liberte comme condition naturelle et droit uni- verse! de /'humanite qui signalait un tournant revolutionnaire. James G. BASKER, American Antislavery Literature, 1688 to 1865: An Introduction, EA 70-3 (2017): 259-278. © Klincksieck.