Orjatar (original 1979; edition 1985)

by Barbara Chase-Riboud, Eva Siikarla (Translator), Hannu Teider (Introduction)

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440	8	56,638	(3.99)	5
Bringing to life one of the greatest and most controversial love stories, this fictional account reveals the beautiful and elusive Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson's mistress for 38 years whom he loved and lived with until he died. Adding to the scandal, she was a quadroon slave and Jefferson fathered a slave family whose descendants are alive today. In this novel, Jefferson and his mistress are fully realized, as are many of the other personages of the early Republic--Aaron Burr, Dolly and James Madison, John and Abigail Adams, and Sally's mother Elizabeth, who was Jefferson's father-in-law's mistress. This brilliant and highly acclaimed novel is a contemporary masterpiece--a poignant, tragic, and unforgettable meditation on the history of race and sex in America.… (more)

▾Book information

Member:	ari.joki
Title:	Orjatar
Authors:	Barbara Chase-Riboud
Other authors:	Eva Siikarla (Translator), Hannu Teider (Introduction)
Info:	Helsinki : Suuri suomalainen kirjakerho, : 1985.
Collections:	Your library, minun
Rating:
Tags:	Ykl 84.2, fiction, usa, thomas jefferson, sally hemings, dramatised history

Work Information

Sally Hemings by Barbara Chase-Riboud (1979)

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Showing 1-5 of 7 (next | show all)

This was a powerful book. Definately is making me rethinking our founding fathers. (

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tmscott13 | Jan 23, 2016 |

A harrowing read. Beautifully crafted but difficult and frustrating at times - I was relieved to finish. Jefferson was too unlikeable. I wasn't sure what the point of the census taker story line was besides recording Sally and her sons as white - seemed a bit of a redundant section the further into the book I got.
I don't know much about this period of history so I think I missed quite a bit of context. (

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aine.fin | Jul 9, 2015 |

I have always been interested in Jefferson as a person, not as much as a President, although that may sound strange. He was conflicted, as evidenced in his stand on slavery, being against it in principle, yet unable to divest himself of the ones he had. The story of Sally's life, as told here, even though a work of fiction, does play on the known facts of her life, & could almost BE biographical in nature. I was glad to see all of the rumors finally put to rest by DNA evidence that revealed that the Hemings clan's descendants ARE in fact related to the great man. I don't understand why there was all the secrecy to begin with, it was no secret that the masters of the plantations & their sons often had slave mistresses that bore their children. (

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Lisa.Johnson.James | Apr 11, 2014 |

A beautiful novel portraying the relationship between Thomas Jefferson and his slave Sally Hemings from her perspective as a love affair, introducing universal themes that make it much more than just a story about the oppressive and contaminating effects of slavery - though it is that, as well.

Longer review at www.HistoricalNovels.info

margad | Mar 18, 2010 |

Fascinating book fictionalizing the romance between Thomas Jefferson and his slave, Sally Hemings. DNA has shown the relationship occurred, but the reality of their love is disputed. It is truly hard to understand the actions of the man who wrote "all men are created equal" and yet held his own sons in slavery! (

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jeaneva | Jan 16, 2008 |

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Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize (1979)

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1979

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Sally Hemings

Thomas Jefferson

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Barbara Chase-Riboud

▾Book descriptions

Bringing to life one of the greatest and most controversial love stories, this fictional account reveals the beautiful and elusive Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson's mistress for 38 years whom he loved and lived with until he died. Adding to the scandal, she was a quadroon slave and Jefferson fathered a slave family whose descendants are alive today. In this novel, Jefferson and his mistress are fully realized, as are many of the other personages of the early Republic--Aaron Burr, Dolly and James Madison, John and Abigail Adams, and Sally's mother Elizabeth, who was Jefferson's father-in-law's mistress. This brilliant and highly acclaimed novel is a contemporary masterpiece--a poignant, tragic, and unforgettable meditation on the history of race and sex in America.

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