Final answer:
Phillis Wheatley used her trip to England to advertise her publication of Poems and negotiate her freedom. She also exercised significant authorial control over her publication, representing a noteworthy achievement for an African-American woman in her era.
Step-by-step explanation:
The publication of works before leaving a nation can serve multiple purposes, particularly in the historical context of Phillis Wheatley, the first African-American woman to publish a book of poetry. Wheatley's decision to publish her Poems prior to departing American soil for England was a strategic move that aided both her personal and professional prospects. Vincent Carretta's biography of Wheatley suggests that she used her trip to England not only to advertise her publication but also to negotiate her freedom following the 1772 Somerset case. Wheatley's freedom was eventually secured shortly after her book appeared in print. Moreover, she was able to exercise an exceptional degree of authorial control over the publication process of her works, an unprecedented achievement for a woman of her time and circumstance.