Sally Hemings [Paperback]

Barbara Chase-Rboud (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: St Martins Pres, Inc,1979 (1979)
• ASIN: B000VDUV0A
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,525,793 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Facinating! "Proved" what I encountered at age 12., June 8, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Concord,NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sally Hemings: A Novel (Paperback)

When I was a young adolescent, my Illini-Germanic American and immigrant family and I went to Monticello. I inquired as to why there was a "trap door" into Jefferson's bedroom and was told that Mr. Jefferson used the space above his bedroom to store clothing, etc. I didn't believe it, Thanks be to God! Many years later, I learned of this book while living in Durham, NC. I found a copy in a used bookstore and read it and realized that my adolescent suspicions were grounded in hidden truths! Barbara Chase-Riboud charaturization of the Life of Jefferson is NOW something that the tour guides of Monticellio do reference. (Wonders never Cease!) The recent DNA studies and the fact that the some of the members of Thomas Jefferson's family have acknowledged the Hemmings as their Family members will no doubt bring this "long forgotten" historical-"fiction" novel into it's own. Hopefully, the re-publication of the work will benifit the Great-great-grand children of Sally Hemmings and will likewise recognize the other works of Barbara Chase-Riboud as well as other "Afro-American" Female writers who dared/dare to record American History NOT as "An American Controversy" but as This United State s of American History. Sally Hemmings is clearly in this work a Beacon of Light for the WOMEN of this Nation as Rosa Parks was/is. WOMEN of this Nation who dare to explore "where they came from" and "where their Strength" lies Embodied" will find in Sally Hemmings, as she speaks today from Barbara's novel, a Woman who lives more fully than she could enjoy herself when she was alive: in the world she was birthed into, she was not recognized as a Woman. Sally Hemmings today cannot escape the attention of any man or woman of Integrity. Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemmings are NOT "An American Contoversery". Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemmings are, for those of us of Integrity, Founders of THIS Unitied States of America -- now fighting against the "ethnic cleansing" elsewhere!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great historical fiction..., October 13, 2003

By 

Felicia Latoya Brown (Willingboro, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sally Hemings: A Novel (Paperback)

Barbara Chase-Riboud did an amazing job with creating fiction using true historical documentation. It was a compelling and informational read. One of my friends recommended it, and I am glad she did. If you want to read about Sally Hemings and get as close to an accurate information, this is probably as close as you can get. The quotes from Jefferson's writings and other documents connect this story like nothing else I have read. Definitely a must for history buffs.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why hasn't this sort of story been more widely told?, August 5, 2000

By 

Marguerite Le - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sally Hemings: A Novel (Paperback)

I always vaguely admired Thomas Jefferson and knew that he was an interesting sort of man and quite the genius. However, I was completely surprised and interested to read about his relationship with Sally Hemings. I couldn't put this book down and I resolved to read more about Sally Hemings. How sickening and dreadful we "humans" have treated each other and still treat each other! How could Jefferson had slaves? (How could anyone?)

I think that this sort of book should be required reading in high schools and colleges instead of some of the deadly boring books assigned in Lit classes. Most people don't think about and don't know how people of color and how women have been so ignored, disrespected and hidden in American history.

SALLY HEMINGS is a novel, but this story tells the sad truth of slaves and women. I'd recommend it for men and women... It's a good read and it's thought-provoking... There are women in parts of the world in similar circumstance right now and we are oblivious to their situations. Hopefully, their stories won't stay buried as the story of SALLY HEMINGS has been.

Good book. I really recommend it.