A new research project intends to examine the ways in which literature has influenced the Transatlantic slave trade. The project runs over a three-year period, during which the members of the research group hope to find out how the cultural and political development in the world was influenced by the slave trade.

`By analyzing a number of texts, we intend to examine the ways in which the understanding of slavery influenced such notions as freedom, work and nation states, which were to become the building blocks of modern democracies´, says associate professor Frits Andersen, who will be in charge of the research project `The Literary History of Slavery – Comparative Studies of Literature related to the Transatlantic Slave Trade´.

Variation through the use of multiple text groups

When examining the Transatlantic slave trade, the research group will be drawing upon a broad variety of texts.

`We will be analyzing novels, texts and legal documents alike, simply because different types of written sources have different strengths. For example, the form of the novel leaves room for a broader interpretation, compared to other forms of texts´, he says.

In addition to that, the research group intends to compare texts and notions related to slavery, across the colonial histories of the different nations involved.

The interest in slavery is increasing

Frits Andersen points out that shedding light upon the topic of slavery is still very important today, not least because 30 million people throughout the world are still living under slave-like conditions. Furthermore, there is a large interest in the history of early slavery in the public. This is the case in popular culture as well as in actual debates.

`For example, more and more African Americans travel to Africa, to seek out their origins, visit the memorials of slavery, and, thus, become enlightened on the tragic faith of the slaves´, he says.