Sisters of the Spirit: Three Black Women's Autobiographies of the Nineteenth Century (Religion in North America) [Paperback]

William L. Andrews (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0253287049 | ISBN-13: 978-0253287045 | Publication Date: July 22, 1986

"Sisters of the Spirit... should interest a wider audience.... These fascinating accounts can stand on their own.... Mr. Andrews has made them even more accessible by providing a comprehensive introduction and helpful footnotes... but he does not intrude on the text itself." —New York Times Book Review

"... informative and inspiring reading." —The Journal of American History

Jarena Lee, Zilpha Elaw, and Julia Foote underwent a revolution in their own sense of self that helped to launch a feminist revolution in American religious life and in American society as a whole.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Andrews, a University of Wisconsin English professor, has collected the spiritual autobiographies of Jarena Lee, Zilpha Elaw and Julia Foote, who preached the gospel from 1836 to 1879 and were pioneers as women, preachers and blacks at a time when slavery was ending in the U.S. These memoirs chronicle difficult childhoods, religious conversions in revival camp meetings and adult lives dedicated to saving souls across black and white America. While some readers may find the evangelical language slow going, these texts remain important documents of racial and feminist radicalism in American religious life.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Indiana University Press (July 22, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0253287049
• ISBN-13: 978-0253287045
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #314,513 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Know the Facts of W omen Pioneers, December 15, 2002

By 

L. Johnson (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sisters of the Spirit: Three Black Women's Autobiographies of the Nineteenth Century (Religion in North America) (Paperback)

Everyone (especially a Woman of God) should read this book! These (3) women were wonderously made to do The Lord's work against all odds!
Their adventures (although obviously enhanced in grammar)and the history alone is enough. The power just leaps off the pages and you can feel the spirit. I actually had to lay the book down sometime because of the power of the written words that I was receiving into my spirit.
I read the book sometime ago.. and so moved that I'm reading it again!! and maybe even more times in the future. You should "Give" any special sisters you have in your life a copy It's definitely one of those books that you can read more than once and still find JOY!! I rate Higher 5 Stars PLUS PLUS PLUS!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spiritual Sisters, July 26, 2005

By 

Robert W. Kellemen "Doc. K." (Crown Point, IN United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sisters of the Spirit: Three Black Women's Autobiographies of the Nineteenth Century (Religion in North America) (Paperback)

Andrews brings together the spiritual autobiographies of three African American Christian women ministers: Jarena Lee, Zilpha Elaw, and Julia Foote. His historical introductions provide a solid foundation for the original texts. The original texts, united as they are in one place, demonstrate a remarkable convergence of themes, predominant among them the theme of identity in Christ overcoming shame and suffering in the world.

While not everyone will perhaps agree with the decisions made by any of these three women ministers, everyone will be stretched by their lives and by their message.

Reviewer: Dr. Robert W. Kellemen is the author of "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction," "Soul Physicians," and "Spiritual Friends."