Narrative of Sojourner Truth (Penguin Classics) [Paperback]

Sojourner Truth (Author), Nell Irvin Painter (Contributor)

Book Description

Series: Penguin Classics | Publication Date: November 1, 1998

A symbol of the strength of African-American women, and a champion of the rights of all women, Sojourner Truth was an illiterate former slave in New York State who transformed herself into a vastly powerful orator. Dictating to a neighbor, she began her celebrated life story, in which she chronicles her youth, her 1827 emancipation, and her religious experiences, one year after the extremely successful publication in 1846 of Frederick Douglass's narrative.

Truth's magnetism as an abolitionist speaker brought her fame in her own time, and her narrative gives today's readers a vivid picture of nineteenth-century life in the north, where blacks, enslaved or free, lived in relative isolation from one another.

Based on the 1884 edition of the Narrative, this volume contains "Book of Life", a contemporary collection of letters and biographical sketches about Truth's public appearances, including the controversial "Arn't I a Woman" speech and Harriet Beecher Stowe's 1863 essay, "Sojourner Truth, The Libyan Sibyl" as well as "A Memorial Chapter" about her death.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics (November 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140436782
• ISBN-13: 978-0140436785
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #168,049 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting..., November 3, 2005

By 

Sandra "~ * SS * ~" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Narrative of Sojourner Truth (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

I thought this book was written a little differently, but I also found it helpful. It was cool how Sojourner Truth's Book of Life was written inside of it along with a whole separate book. There was a lot of good information in it. I used this book for a school project and it worked out great. The book was useful and interesting to read because there are letters from people she knew that were written to her. I enjoyed reading this also recieved info from it.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Narrative of Sojourner Truth, October 30, 2007

By 

Dot Dallas "Dot" (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Narrative of Sojourner Truth (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

This book is an excellent biography. It goes a little further into the creases and crefices of the life of this great woman. I used it for a presentation in one of my doctoral courses and found it on a level that fit my needs.

3.0 out of 5 stars Narrative of Sojourner Truth, October 25, 2011

By 

ebonyj - See all my reviews

This review is from: Narrative of Sojourner Truth (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

Appendix- Book Review
The Narrative of Sojourner Truth by Nell Irvin Painter is a great book for all women to read. It is a historical slave narrative but it is unique because it is not based slavery that takes place down south like most slave narratives. This narrative takes place in New York and is about a strong African American women name Isabella who escapes from slavery, changes her name to Sojourner Truth, becomes a preacher, feminist, and famous public speaker.
Reading this book you really get a feel of what I life was like to be an African American women in New York as a slave. But, you also get a feel of how strong women had to be during the time period in which Sojourner Truth lived. She worked everyday in the field and was described as manly-shaped women because of the muscular shape. She had no proper education meaning she could not read or write. She was sold into slavery at the age of 9 years old and liberated in 1817. She married a former slave and rejoiced at the birth of five children.
Despite all of her negative mishaps she found many ways to overcome her difficulties by praying and using the resources she had to survive. I would recommend reading this book if you enjoy reading about legendary African American women who paved the way for many women today.