Fanaticism; Its Source and Influence, Illustrated by the Simple Narrative of Isabella, in the Case of Matthias

What it is

This 1835 book was written by Gilbert Vale and is held by the Library of Congress. It is the earliest published account of the life of Sojourner Truth, then still known as Isabella, built on her own testimony during the scandal surrounding a religious commune led by a man called Matthias.

Why it matters

Published years before she took the name Sojourner Truth, this book defended her reputation during a public scandal and preserves one of the earliest records of her own words and experiences. It shows how her story was shaped by others' interests even before she became a famous public speaker.

Look closer

• Why might the author have wanted to defend Truth publicly in 1835?
• How might an account written by someone else differ from one Truth might have told in her own words?
• What does this book's existence tell us about how controversial and newsworthy the Matthias case was?