Stepto notes that in light of the tension that developed between Douglass and Garrison in later years, one might be inclined to perceive a battle for authorial control between Douglass’s narrative and this prefatory letter. Yet, with reference to the passage that begins “This Narrative contains many affecting incidents,” Stepto asserts that Garrison “acknowledges the tale’s singular rhetorical power” and “remains a member of Douglass’s audience far more than he assumes the posture of a competing or superior voice” (19).