her experiences, has been featured in a new book.

Her account, originally published more than 160 years ago, is still regarded as a crucial document by historians.

Now it has been featured in a new book, "Black Writers in Britain 1760-1890'', edited by the late Mr. Paul Edwards and Mr. David Dabydeen, lecturer in Caribbean studies at England's Warwick University.

Last week the book, and Mary Prince's story, were featured on a BBC World Service arts programme.

Mary Prince was born around 1788 at Brackish Bond in Bermuda and sold into slavery in the West Indies. She was taken to England in 1828 and three years later dictated her story to an Anti-Slavery Society member.

Her account, containing horrifying details of how she was abused and beaten by her owners, sparked off a public debate on slavery.

In the editors' introduction to their section on Mary Prince, they say: "(Her) autobiography...represents the first substantial account of black female slave life. Up to that date, all the Afro-British accounts of or comments on slavery were written by men.

"Apart from the revelation of the physical brutality of slavery, Mary Prince's autobiography testifies to other crucial areas of slave experience -- firstly, the utter instability and unpredictability of her condition.'' Mr. Dabydeen told The Royal Gazette : `It's the single most important piece of writing in terms of a black woman writing in Britain in the 19th century. It's very significant.'' "Black Writers in Britain'' is published by Edinburgh University Press, priced at 12.95.

Mary Prince's story has also been featured in other books, including "The Classic Slave Narratives'', edited by Henry L. Gates, published by Mentor Press at $7.95, and available at bookstores including The Bookmart in the Phoenix Centre, Hamilton.