Her autobiography remained in manuscript, but copies began to circulate and in 1760 it was published in a frequently reprinted collection of conversion narratives.

To Rampersad, the Autobiography is about psychology, ideology, a conversion narrative, and the myth-making process.

According to his conversion narrative, the preacher asked him if he believed God's promises, and as Charles' answer was not convincing enough, the guest pressed the point.

Broadly speaking, a conversion narrative is a narrative that relates the operation of conversion, usually religious.

As defined by Patricia Caldwell, the conversion narrative was "a testimony of personal religious experience.

A key figure in the development and adaptation of the conversion narrative to the New England Puritan churches was John Cotton.

Loury's conversion narrative is compelling stuff, but there's something missing.

But A Civil Action is a sturdy piece of work, an old-fashioned conversion narrative with some high-tech zip.

"People who diet are always looking for a holy grail," Ms. Haber said, "a fat conversion narrative - just like religious people."

Animals often play a role in these conversion narratives: Ellen Dissanayake, the author of "What Is Art For?"