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Narrative of Sojourner Truth
This inspiring memoir, first published in 1850, recounts the struggles of a distinguished African-American abolitionist and champion of women's rights. Sojourner Truth tells of her life in slavery, her self-liberation, and her travels across America in pursuit of racial and sexual equality. Essential reading for students of American history.
Paperback, 80 pages
Published
July 7th 1997
by Dover Publications
(first published 1993)
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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, t...more
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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...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...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....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....more
William Hayes
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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 le...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 le...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 al...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 he...more
The 1884 edition of he...more
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.
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.
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.
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
How is it that some exihibit such strength, while enduring unimaginable hardships, and others collapse bearing [comparatively] light burdens?
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.
I enjoyed the story of Sojourner Truth and how she faced her trials with determination and faith in God.
I enjoyed learning about Sojourner Truth's life, but as she did not read or write herself, I didn't really trust the version I was getting. The book certainly gave me an appreciation for this remarkable woman. The second part of the book, which contained writings about her and others' accounts of her was slower going for me, and more of scholarly interest.
Really interesting first-person account of slave life in the South. What an amazing woman.
Fascinating look at a fascinating woman. Looking forward to reading the 1884 edition.
I am so humbled after reading this. What an amazing woman, mother, and human being.
She gave the famous, "Ain't I a woman", speech three blocks from my university.
Mentioned in The Princessa: Machiavelli for Women by Harriet Rubin.
Intriguing - Read many years ago - deserves a reread.
Xion
added it
Had to read it in school ,and quite liked it .
Another one of my heroes...
As an admirer of the "Ain't I a Woman" speech and someone who was interested in learning more about the lady behind it, I looked forward to reading this book. I admire the editing behind this narrative, given that so little is known about Sojourner Truth's early life, but it is a commendable effort and a satisfying read.
Sojourner Truth was a extrodinary, a pioneer of her time, and while I appreciate the story, I did not care for the way the book itself was written. I think it took away from the essence of her story. I found the depiction of slavery in the north compared to what I know of slavery in the south interesting.
My belief that God calls people to his work is evidenced in her story. Before I read this book, I didn't know that He chose Sojourner Truth's name. I love the fact that she really reaches out to people by using her distinctive singing/speaking voice - It was so inspirational.
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| conflicted by the title/ name | 2 | 6 | Mar 01, 2009 07:30am |
Sojourner Truth (1797–November 26, 1883) was the self-given name, from 1843, of Isabella Baumfree, an American abolitionist and women's rights activist. Truth was born into slavery in Swartekill, New York. Her best-known speech, "Ain't I a Woman?," was delivered in 1851 at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio.
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