This book of poetry, written by Phillis Wheatley, first African American woman published poet, was lauded in both Europe and the American colonies as an example of the artistic and intellectual equality of people of African descent. Phillis Wheatley was born in West Africa and was seized as a child and transported to North America on a slave ship known as The Phillis, for which she was later renamed. Enslaved and educated in the household of Boston merchant John Wheatley, she began writing beautiful and complex poetry about religion, nature, politics, race, slavery, art, and literature. This original copy of her work, published in 1773, is autographed by Wheatley.