O
Olive Gilbert
Olive Gilbert is an author best known for recording the life stories of historical figures. Her written works include Narrative of Sojourner Truth and SuperWomen, which focus on biography and social history.
Narrative of Sojourner Truth : A Northern Slave, Emancipated from Bodily Servitude by the State of New York, in 1828
This powerful narrative recounts the life of Sojourner Truth, born into slavery in New York and later emancipated in 1828. It details her journey from bodily servitude to becoming a prominent abolitionist and women's rights advocate. Through her own words and the accounts of others, readers gain insight into the struggles and triumphs of a remarkable figure in American history.
This edition is a transcription of the original 1850 publication, which was dictated by Sojourner Truth to Olive Gilbert. It provides a direct account of her life and experiences as she wished them to be recorded.
Sojourner Truth's narrative is a primary source document offering a rare first-person perspective on slavery in New York before its abolition. It is widely studied for its insights into abolitionism, women's rights, and the experiences of enslaved people in the antebellum North.
William Lloyd Garrison, a prominent abolitionist, wrote the preface to the original 1850 edition. His introduction contextualizes Sojourner Truth's story within the broader abolitionist movement and vouches for her character and experiences.