Amazon.com: Sally Hemings (9780380486861): Barbara Chase-Riboud: Books

More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Barbara Chase-Riboud Page

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

26 Reviews

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

4.6 out of 5 stars (26 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

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

SherylSMills@excite.com (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!

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse | Permalink

Comment Comment

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.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse | Permalink

Comment Comment

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.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse | Permalink

Comment Comment

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 26 customer reviews...

Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Phenomenal...Almost beyond words.
Barbara Chase-Riboud's 'Sally Hemings' is marvelous, contextually sound, and in my mind probably the closest presentation of what happened between Jefferson and Hemings. Read more

Published 4 months ago by Lisa Carter

5.0 out of 5 stars A nice gift
Not having read the book yet -- it is a gift to a friend. I am sure I shall enjoy it when I do read it.

Published 11 months ago by Barbara L. Johnson

5.0 out of 5 stars Love Is Warmer than Blood
Barbara Chase-Riboud's novel, "Sally Hemings," is based upon the life and love of an African-American slave of that name and her famous lover, Thomas Jefferson, president of the... Read more

Published on January 12, 2010 by Jim Duggins, Ph.D.

3.0 out of 5 stars A poignant tale...
...but not one I'm not entirely convinced into believing. When I first started reading this tale, I was encouraged by the 'voice' given to Sally Hemings--a figure, who for all the... Read more

Published on January 12, 2009 by Bonnie J. Krodel

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book and I could feel some of the parts
This was a wonderful book although it was fiction. It was extremely interesting to see how the interest in Sally Hemmings was and also how the relationship developed which seemed... Read more

Published on May 22, 2008 by E. Mosley

4.0 out of 5 stars It's Not History
I was a guide at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello when the DNA evidence linking Jefferson to Hemings exploded in the mid-1990s, and know how affected many were by the mere thought of... Read more

Published on January 28, 2008 by D. Evans

5.0 out of 5 stars Monticello Mystique... A masterpiece
I just visited Monticello and I must say that Chase-Riboud did an amazing job with bringing depth and vitality to the spirit of Monticello. Read more

Published on January 17, 2007 by Naoki

4.0 out of 5 stars ENLIGHTENING!!!
"It has long been known that the best blood of Virginia may now be found in the slave markets."

The story of Sally Hemmings a squadron slave, is at the
centre... Read more

Published on August 24, 2006 by Heather Marshall Negahdar

4.0 out of 5 stars Sally Hemings
Barbara Chase-Riboud does a miraculous job writing her novel Sally Hemings. Not only does she give the reader a clear view of the effects that slavery placed upon African... Read more

Published on December 12, 2005 by Alli Pruett

5.0 out of 5 stars The storm of controversy still rages on....
as to whether or not Thomas Jefferson fathered children on Sally Hemings, half-sister to his deceased wife (and by all accounts, who bore a striking resemblance to her). Read more

Published on November 22, 2005 by Ra

› See all 26 customer reviews...

Inside This Book (learn more)
Browse and search another edition of this book.

First Sentence:
THERE WAS a white man coming up her road, as if God had ordained it and as if he owned the road. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
white mistress, west lawn

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Sally Hemings, Nathan Langdon, Elizabeth Hemings, United States, Aaron Burr, Martha Jefferson, Abigail Adams, Masta Jefferson, Captain Ramsay, Hotel de Langeac, Thomas Mann, James Hemings, Albemarle County, Big House, John Adams, Sally Herrings, Quincy Adams, Washington City, James Madison, John Wayles, Martha Randolph, Nat Turner, New York, Davey Bowles, Declaration of Independence

New!
Concordance | Text Stats

Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!