Pulitzer Prize History Winner
The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family
by Annette Gordon-Reed
Summary
Gordon-Reed traces several generations of the enslaved Hemings family at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, including Sally Hemings and her children. She uses careful research to bring their lives, relationships, and choices into clear view within a system of bondage. The book matters for centering an enslaved family's experience and reshaping how readers understand Jefferson and American slavery.
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Historical Context & Significance
Annette Gordon-Reed won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for History and the National Book Award for this family history.