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fjette's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
slow-paced
4.0
Comprehensive, methodical, well-researched
xxstefaniereadsxx's review
informative
slow-paced
4.0
Sally Hemmings is one of the most well-known slaves. I was exposed to her story by accident, when I found a book in my middle school library, called Wolf By The Ears. Obviously, it was not a historically accurate book, but it sparked an interest in the Presidency and politics of Thomas Jefferson, as well as his relationship to slavery. This book does a wonderful job of tracking the Hemmings family ancestry and provides a lot of information about several members of the family. I really enjoyed this book, and read it at a really good time. I am in my last week of African American History and American Slavery classes, so this was appropriate reading for this.
the_unsocial_moth's review
5.0
Superbly researched and well-written. A little repetitive on points, especially in the first half of the book, but the level of detail, skill of commentary, and engaging writing transports the reader firmly in the world of the Hemingses. Not surprising that this book won a Pulitzer!
lindseymart2's review
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Incredibly thoughtful and well researched- to be expected from this brilliant historian.
tortoured_reads's review
5.0
This book is like a wonderful opera… an all-encompassing story of this great man, Thomas Jefferson, and this family given to him by his wife, Martha’s family. After Martha died, not only did he ensure that the family stayed together but he was also instrumental in letting them learn new trades, such as French cuisine cooking.
Thomas Jefferson was by no means a perfect man, and this side of history also plays out throughout the book, especially towards the end. I was sad for this book to end, as I was left wanting more, but in a good way. Overall, this was a great book. I would highly recommend.
Thomas Jefferson was by no means a perfect man, and this side of history also plays out throughout the book, especially towards the end. I was sad for this book to end, as I was left wanting more, but in a good way. Overall, this was a great book. I would highly recommend.