rebeccatc's review against another edition
3.0
While the title suggests that this book is a biography of the Hemings family, I think it could be better described as a treatise on the institution of slavery, using the Hemings family as a case study. While the author has definitely done thorough research, there simply is not enough information available about this family to really tell their story without a large dose of speculation. I did think that the author did a good job of demonstrating the personal nature of slavery. In particular, a situation in which a white slaveowner's "slave family" interacts with his legal, white family in the face of being denied legal recognition, their inheritance, and the security of not having to fear being sold away or otherwise separated from their loved ones. The writer did demonstrate some bias in her opinions, and her writing style was a bit meandering and repetitive. This story probably could have been told in 300 pages instead of 600+.
bargainsleuth's review against another edition
2.0
DNF. This book could have easily been half the length. As I suspected before I started reading it, there is mostly speculation of events and conjecture on the part of the author, although it is clear she did a lot of research into the legalities of slavery in Virginia in the late 1700's. I almost feel like the information provided would be better served as a historical fiction book than a history book. Gave up about 200 pages in as it just wasn't engaging and kept repeating the same speculative information.
jazzypizzaz's review against another edition
5.0
(listened to via audiobook)
This is a stunningly creative and eye-opening work of history.
What fascinated me most was the extent to which I learned almost as much about how to glean historical facts from primary sources as about the subject matter. There is more known about the Hemingses than almost all other enslaved people of the era, mostly because of their association with Jefferson, but still far less is known about the actual thoughts and personal lives of many of the Hemingses than people like Jefferson. Most (except notably Madison Hemings) did not leave personal written records or letters to shed light on their reactions to events in their life. Rather, the author does the exceptional feat of giving voices and agency to this notable American family by creative triangulation. She weaves together letters from people associated with the family, laws and customs of the era, historical context, similar experiences from other people, farm records, in-depth psychological deduction, etc, to methodically detail exactly what we can and cannot know about the family-- what we can infer based on left unsaid, as well as what we should not assume and will never know for sure. For example, a recurring theme is how laws of the era do not prescribe behaviour-- actual social practices regularly occur outside what the law dictates. Any conclusions she makes, while speculative, the reader knows exactly why and how she came to this conclusion. She also expertly dispels many assumptions of (white) historians that take agency away from the stories of the enslaved people or make them seem less complicated or intelligent than white/male people of the era.
While never pulling any punches about the abuse that slavery wrecks on those enslaved nor forgiving even the most (in their minds) well-meaning of slave holders, the author also creates a more complicated picture of slavery-- and the "relationships" between master and slaves-- than I've read before. This is particularly relevant to the Hemingses, who were mixed race (some of whom later even went on to live as white) and therefore treated differently than other enslaved people, as well as to Jefferson, a hypocritical and very complicated man who wanted to treat his slaves fairly and well while also reaping the benefits of holding them under his control.
This is an incredibly compelling piece of historical scholarship, and I recommend it to anyone with a passing interest in the American Revolutionary period.
This is a stunningly creative and eye-opening work of history.
What fascinated me most was the extent to which I learned almost as much about how to glean historical facts from primary sources as about the subject matter. There is more known about the Hemingses than almost all other enslaved people of the era, mostly because of their association with Jefferson, but still far less is known about the actual thoughts and personal lives of many of the Hemingses than people like Jefferson. Most (except notably Madison Hemings) did not leave personal written records or letters to shed light on their reactions to events in their life. Rather, the author does the exceptional feat of giving voices and agency to this notable American family by creative triangulation. She weaves together letters from people associated with the family, laws and customs of the era, historical context, similar experiences from other people, farm records, in-depth psychological deduction, etc, to methodically detail exactly what we can and cannot know about the family-- what we can infer based on left unsaid, as well as what we should not assume and will never know for sure. For example, a recurring theme is how laws of the era do not prescribe behaviour-- actual social practices regularly occur outside what the law dictates. Any conclusions she makes, while speculative, the reader knows exactly why and how she came to this conclusion. She also expertly dispels many assumptions of (white) historians that take agency away from the stories of the enslaved people or make them seem less complicated or intelligent than white/male people of the era.
While never pulling any punches about the abuse that slavery wrecks on those enslaved nor forgiving even the most (in their minds) well-meaning of slave holders, the author also creates a more complicated picture of slavery-- and the "relationships" between master and slaves-- than I've read before. This is particularly relevant to the Hemingses, who were mixed race (some of whom later even went on to live as white) and therefore treated differently than other enslaved people, as well as to Jefferson, a hypocritical and very complicated man who wanted to treat his slaves fairly and well while also reaping the benefits of holding them under his control.
This is an incredibly compelling piece of historical scholarship, and I recommend it to anyone with a passing interest in the American Revolutionary period.
acarman1's review against another edition
5.0
The story of the relationship between Jefferson and Sally Hemings has come to be accepted as fact in large part due to the work of Dr. Gordon-Reed. I wanted to read this book to get the background on the story. It is meticulously researched and engagingly written. Dr. Gordon-Reed also portrays ALL the figures in this story with real understanding and balance. Instead of writing off the relationship as either "definitely rape" or "a real love affair" she tries to recover what both sides understood the situation. It is not a defense of Jefferson who comes across as all-too-human and very prideful, thinking of himself as an enlightened master, while still insisting his enslaved folks, even those related to him, be at his constant beck and call. But neither is it an attempt to completely attack him and paint him as a rapist and a tyrant. I encourage anyone interested in the early republic, specifically the history of slavery and Jefferson's relation to it, to read this book rather than the headlines on Reddit. The story is much more complex than you think!
km_cajigas's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.5