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The Narrative Of Sojourner Truth (Easy Read Large Edition)
One of the most important documents of slavery ever written, this landmark in the literature of African-American women is the eloquent autobiography of a woman who became a pioneer in the struggles for racial and sexual equality. The spiritual, inspiring narrative bears witness to Sojourner Truth's 30 years as a slave in upstate New York.
Published
(first published January 1st 1970)
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Jul 15, 2007
Katherine
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
everyone
Shelves:
non-fiction
Powerful, heart-breaking, uplifting. Historically fascinating because many newspaper accounts, meeting notices and personal greetings are excerpted from her "Book of Life", a kind of scrapbook/autograph book she carried with her on her travels. Abraham Lincoln, Emily Dickinson, Susan B. Anthony, Frederick Douglass, Ulysses S. Grant all signed it during her lifetime. My only regret about her narrative is that the persons to whom she dictated her life story chose, for the most part, to edit her wo...more
Beautifully written and a pleasure to read even though the truth it tells is difficult to admit.
This should be required reading in junior high or middle school as it is called in some parts of the U.S.A. History is often fiction by the time it rests in the ears and mind of a student. History is told by the winner, distorted by religion, fabricated by governments, lost in translation and misplaced in forgotten time capsules. Slavery stripped human beings of their hope, their loved ones, their pr...more
This should be required reading in junior high or middle school as it is called in some parts of the U.S.A. History is often fiction by the time it rests in the ears and mind of a student. History is told by the winner, distorted by religion, fabricated by governments, lost in translation and misplaced in forgotten time capsules. Slavery stripped human beings of their hope, their loved ones, their pr...more
3 likes · like · see review
Mar 02, 2013
Jeff Humphreys
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
shaker historians, spiritualism historians, slavery historians
Shelves:
history
I may have read something slightly different: The Narrative of Sojourner Truth by Olive Gilbert. Sojourner could not write, so to some degree someone wrote down her story for her. Gilbert's language has a religious fervor to it that would have suited Sojourner.
It's an amazing story, and difficult to read due to the stilted language of the period. At first it seems like any other story on the cruelties of slavery - but then is such cruelty just any other story? Still, the story moves beyond those...more
It's an amazing story, and difficult to read due to the stilted language of the period. At first it seems like any other story on the cruelties of slavery - but then is such cruelty just any other story? Still, the story moves beyond those...more
"....When [Sojourner Truth] was examining the Scriptures, she wished to hear them without comment; but if she employed adult persons to read them to her, and she asked them to read a passage over again, they invariably commenced to explain, by giving her their version of it; and in this way, they tried her feelings exceedingly. In consequence of this, she ceased to ask adult persons to read the Bible to her, and substituted children in their stead. Children, as soon as they could read distinctly...more
Sojourner Truth had to be one of the most charismatic people ever to walk the Earth.* Charisma is hard to convey in any mode that's not face-to-face. This book might be as close to capturing raw charisma as I have ever seen. She stands out even in an era of incredibly charismatic people.
My edition had both The Narrative of Sojourner Truth, and the Book of Life. The latter was Sojourner's scrapbook and autograph book she carried around as she traveled preaching and telling her story.
My reaction...more
My edition had both The Narrative of Sojourner Truth, and the Book of Life. The latter was Sojourner's scrapbook and autograph book she carried around as she traveled preaching and telling her story.
My reaction...more
4 likes · like · see review
An important document of slavery in the United States, this slim book is the story of "an extraordinary woman in such hard times for black Americans." Remaindered for $1.00, I could not resist buying it. My edition was published by Paperview Ltd. in association with The Boston Globe, 2005.
The book tells the story of part of the life of Isabella, born a slave to slave parents in 1797, set free by law in 1928, and living as an itinerant preacher at the point that the book leaves off the story, abo...more
The book tells the story of part of the life of Isabella, born a slave to slave parents in 1797, set free by law in 1928, and living as an itinerant preacher at the point that the book leaves off the story, abo...more
This is an important piece of historical literature by Sojourner Truth to primarily point out the evils of slavery. It is helpful to read a biography of her first and be familiar with her life. This little volume was penned for her by someone else, as she could not read nor write. This narrative was published for her to sell as a way to help support herself as she traveled about speaking against slavery. This only covers the beginning of her life, and she had many more adventures that followed t...more
This is worth reading for the details of Truth's life. But I'm disappointed that a third-rate abolitionist writer was chosen to interview Truth and produce this work of average talent. The most interesting parts are the direct quotes from Truth herself; if the book had taken the form of an interview (a genre not really recognized as legitimate at the time, I realize) this could have been a great book. It does give an indication of the practice of slavery in the "free" states, and is also worthwh...more
This book is a narrative from Sojourner Truth's point of view, of experiences in her life and her family's life related to surviving and overcoming slavery as well as her journey in discovering God and her increasingly growing faith. It is not along book, but I had to put it down on several occasions, because of my hectic schedule. It was not difficult to pick back up where it left off. Sojourner Truth (a name she gave herself - you will have to read the book to learn her birth name), is stoic,...more
Sojourner Truth was born Isabella, a slave, in New York just before 1800. She was emancipated when New York abolished slavery in 1827, and a few years later, she took a new name for herself and began a new career as an itinerant preacher. She quickly became famous for her stirring speeches and her championing of the rights of black people and women, and today she's one of the most famous African-American women of the Civil War period (along with Harriet Tubman).
The 1884 edition of her Narrative...more
The 1884 edition of her Narrative...more
1 like · like · see review
"Through all the scenes of her eventful life may be traced the energy of a naturally powerful mind—the fearlessness and child-like simplicity of one untrammelled by education or conventional customs—purity of character—an unflinching adherence to principle—and a native enthusiasm, which, under different circumstances, might easily have produced another Joan of Arc."
The first part of the short book, penned by Olive Gilbert and based on the recollections of the former slave, recounts episodes of s...more
The first part of the short book, penned by Olive Gilbert and based on the recollections of the former slave, recounts episodes of s...more
I actually read the edition with an informative introduction by Margaret Washington, and I am now reading Washington's biography of her, "Sojourner Truth's America". Also highly recommended.
SLC county library: http://ipac.slcolibrary.org/ipac20/ip...
SLC county library: http://ipac.slcolibrary.org/ipac20/ip...
Normally, reading a book for school doesn't ruin it for me. This time....
Well, I expected it to be slightly interesting, at least. The life sounded slightly interesting. She sounded fierce enough. But it wasn't. No engaging characters, no engaging plot. I didn't finish it. There's a test on it coming soon, and we shall see if I reread it. At this point I would rather fail the test than reread the book. Does that imply how awful it is?
Well, I expected it to be slightly interesting, at least. The life sounded slightly interesting. She sounded fierce enough. But it wasn't. No engaging characters, no engaging plot. I didn't finish it. There's a test on it coming soon, and we shall see if I reread it. At this point I would rather fail the test than reread the book. Does that imply how awful it is?
An important document for sure, although I could have done without many of Ms. Olive´s interjections which often diminished Ms. Truth, in doubting her words or memory. It warrants learning more about Olive Gilbert since it seems to be in many ways her story, as she not only posits herself as a liason between the speaker, the keyboard, and the audience, but as a coach to Ms. Truth´s memory and a contextualizer for the readers.
As moving as Sojourner Truth's story is, this version of it is told through so many filters that it's almost impossible to hear her voice in it. Although, granted, it is hard to make writing true to a woman who could neither read nor write (a friend of Sojourner transcribed (and added many flourishes to) the story), I wish that we could read the young Isabella's story in her own voice. Much of the writing seems too clinical and polished -- a style which certainly wasn't Sojourner's.
That being sa...more
That being sa...more
I thought the book would have a bit more than it did - but it was enough to reveal a woman of extreme principal, determination and spirituality. If I can only be half the woman that she was, I will be wonderful. Definitely a role model. Since this only covers her earliest years, I can't wait to read more about her. And really, I can't be mad - it was a free book!
This wasn't what I was expecting. It was her life story retold by someone else - would have been better told in her own words. The author was very melodramatic - reminded me of an old silent movie. A lot of the book contained Sojourner's sermons and didn't hold my interest. After reading a third of it, I skimmed the second third, and skipped the last third.
A book about a slave and how her life went. I had to read it for school, but it wasn't an awful book. It was actually a good read. It helps us to understand what it was like for them. The being sold to different masters and if/when they were finally free what it was like. What it was like for their children.
Jul 05, 2011
Sara
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
memoir-biography,
african-american-studies
I had a hard time getting into this, as the language was so old world and formal, I had a hard time concentrating on the meaning and feeling of the narratives and concentrating on the "translation" instead, and I think I missed a lot... I just can't "rate" it higher, yet feel guilty for doing so.
Amazing that this woman born into slavery had the sheer guts to stand up and take on the white establishment and take her case to the courts. Amazing that this woman illiterate was able to challenge and move people by her speaking skills.
An interesting read. Good for the history & memoir buff. The first section of the book is an excellent example of writing style and voice in the 1850s. I'm pleased to haven chosen this off the list of books required for a school assignment.
This is not written in Sojourner's own words but told through Gilbert Olive, whose religious piety permeates the whole book. Her life is unquestionably interesting but the manner in which it is told is wearisome.
An inspiring book that shows the strength of the human spirit and all that one can accomplish with determination and a love for humanity, to right a wrong and improve the lives of others.
Excellent narrative from that time period - although becuase she was illiterate, this book was written for her by someone else. Still a good look at the horrible things slaves went through
Nov 12, 2012
Hanan
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Hanan by:
Penn Foster High School
This book showed me how a woman can make a change despite the unfair age she lived in, remarkable strong woman who contributed to shaping of society in her own way!!
a strong woman, powerful, the human spirit will always surprise you. Truth was definitely a fighter and tougher when the odds were against her.
How is it that some exihibit such strength, while enduring unimaginable hardships, and others collapse bearing [comparatively] light burdens?
i wasn't sure how it was possible that i hadn't read it. but it was worth the wait! it took a lot of guts to live the life she lived.
I had to read this in high school, and it felt approximately a million pages long. If I could give it negative stars, I would.
Sojourner Truth is a brilliant and inspiring figure. If you like to read American literature, you need to begin here.
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