2008 book by Annette Gordon-Reed
The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family is a 2008 book by American historian Annette Gordon-Reed. It recounts the history of four generations of the African-American Hemings family, from their African and Virginia origins until the 1826 death of Thomas Jefferson, their master and the father of Sally Hemings' children.
Content.
"The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family" provides a comprehensive account of the Hemings family, their lives at Monticello, and their complex relationship with Thomas Jefferson. Gordon-Reed wanted readers to "see slave people as individuals" and to "tell the story of this family in a way not done before". It is based on the author's study of legal records, diaries, farm books, letters, wills, newspapers, archives, and oral history. The book is divided into several parts, each focusing on different aspects of the family's history and their connection to Jefferson.
Gordon-Reed begins by tracing the origins of the Hemings family, starting with Elizabeth Hemings, the matriarch. She details how Elizabeth came to be owned by John Wayles, Thomas Jefferson's father-in-law, and explores the mixed-race ancestry of the Hemings family.
Much of the book is dedicated to the relationship between Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson. Gordon-Reed presents evidence supporting the long-debated claim that Jefferson fathered Hemings' children. She explores the complexities of their relationship within the context of slavery and the power dynamics of the time.
The author provides detailed accounts of daily life for the Hemings family at Monticello. She describes their roles and responsibilities on the plantation and the privileges they enjoyed compared to other enslaved individuals. Gordon-Reed also discusses the skilled trades learned by some Hemings family members, which set them apart from field laborers.
Gordon-Reed dedicates a section to the time Sally Hemings and James Hemings spent in Paris with Jefferson. She examines how their exposure to French society, where slavery was illegal, influenced their perspectives and negotiations with Jefferson upon their return to America.
The book delves into the intricate family dynamics among the Hemingses, as well as their relationships with Jefferson's white family. Gordon-Reed explores the tensions and connections between these intertwined families, offering insights into the complex social fabric of early American society.
The book's final sections discuss the eventual emancipation of some Hemings family members and their lives after leaving Monticello. Gordon-Reed traces the descendants of the Hemings family into the present day, exploring how they have grappled with their complicated heritage.
Gordon-Reed employs an interdisciplinary approach throughout the book, combining historical research with legal analysis and social psychology to provide a nuanced understanding of the Hemings family's experiences.
Reception.
While "The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family" has been widely praised for its comprehensive research and groundbreaking narrative, historians and reviewers have also criticized it.
Some critics have questioned Gordon-Reed's interpretations of the available evidence. Historian Jan Lewis, while praising the book's "prodigious research," argued that Gordon-Reed occasionally "presses her evidence further than it can easily go" in her attempts to reconstruct the emotional lives of her subjects.
The book's focus on the Hemings family has been commended and critiqued. While many applaud Gordon-Reed for highlighting previously marginalized historical figures, others, like historian David Waldstreicher, have suggested that this focus might overshadow other important aspects of Jefferson's life and times.
Gordon-Reed's portrayal of Thomas Jefferson has also been a point of contention. Some reviewers, such as historian Gordon S. Wood, have argued that her depiction of Jefferson is overly sympathetic, potentially downplaying the moral complexities of his relationship with Sally Hemings.
Historian Peter S. Onuf noted that while this approach offers valuable insights, it also risks making assumptions about historical figures' thoughts and motivations that cannot be definitively proven.
Jefferson scholar Joseph Ellis has called the book "the best study of a slave family ever written".
Despite these criticisms, the book remains highly regarded in academic circles. It has been credited with significantly advancing the study of African American genealogy and the complex dynamics of enslaved families in early American history.
Awards.
The book was a finalist for 18 awards, of which it won 16 awards. In 2010, Gordon-Reed was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship for her works on colonial and early American history, race, and slavery. The Foundation noted that her "persistent investigation into the life of an iconic American president has dramatically changed the course of Jeffersonian scholarship."
2008
2009
References.
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