First published 2016
Gordon-Reed reconstructs the lives of enslaved individuals who worked at Mount Vernon during the 1700s. Drawing from primary documents, archaeological findings, and oral histories, she presents biographical portraits of nineteen people who lived under Washington's ownership. The book examines how Washington viewed slavery throughout his life and explores the various forms of resistance employed by the enslaved community. Through ten analytical essays, Gordon-Reed investigates the types of historical evidence available for studying slavery and traces how Mount Vernon's legacy of bondage persists today. The work combines individual stories with broader analysis of plantation life in colonial Virginia.
Genres: biography, historical-fiction, non-fiction, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family
Setting: Mount Vernon, Virginia
Period: 1700s, Colonial
154 pages · Paperback · Mount Vernon Ladies' Association
Content warnings: slavery