A Long Way from Home - Softcover

Briscoe, Connie

4.01

560 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 006103021X ISBN 13: 9780061030215

Publisher: Avon Books, 2000

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Spanning more than sixty years, A Long Way from Home is the story of Susie; her daughter, Clara; and her granddaughter, Susan--house slaves born and reared at Montpelier, the Virginia plantation of President James Madison. Proud and intelligent, these women are united by love, fierce devotion, and a desire for freedom that grows stronger year by year.

A Long Way from Home vividly re-creates Southern life and the ambivalent, shifting relationships on both sides of the color divide, from the cruelty and insidious benevolence of white owners to the deep yearnings and complex emotions of the slaves themselves. It is an unforgettable story that pays homage to the African-American experience and to the ancestors whose lives and histories are indelibly entwined with our own.

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Review:

"A wonderful read!...Connie Briscoe provides a fascinating peek inside the world of a proud family that refuses to let the turbulent times in which theylive destroy their dreams for happiness and freedom. The strong women who leap from the pages of her book are unforgettable...readers will cheer for them."-- Anita Richmond Bunkley, author of "Girlfriends""Connie Briscoe vividly evokes the joys of love and family, and the pain of separation and bondage. "A Long Way from Home" is a wonderful celebration of strength and perseverance, and a brilliant song of hope." -- E. Lynn Harris, "New York Times" bestselling author of "Abide with Me""Connie Briscoe joyfully honors her family, herself and all of us in this wonderful homage to the resilience and courage of the people who made her the woman and writer she is. "A Long Way from Home" is a book for "everyone" and especially anyone who knows that at the beginning and in the end, we are all joined by the same story."-- Marita Golden, author of "The Edge of Heaven""An engaging and warm story about African Americans in our struggle for dignity and a rightful place in the fabric of the nation. It is also about survival, and the healing power of love and forgiveness. A rich and wonderful read."-- Sandra Kitt, author of "Girlfriends""Tragedy, triumph and female bonding among three generations of amazing women, all in page-turning detail." -- "Mademoiselle""If Margaret Mitchell had imagined Scarlett O'Hara as a slave instead of a plantation belle, this semi-epic novel of the South might have been the result."-- "Entertainment Weekly""Briscoe's novel is a historical romance that falls somewhere between Zora Neale Hurston's "Their Eyes Were WatchingGod" and Margaret Mitchell's "Gone With The Wind."" -- "The Washington Post Book World""A sweeping, powerful saga of slavery and family heritage." -- "Boston Herald""A heartfelt tribute to loyalty and endurance." --" New York Daily News"

Synopsis:

Relates the story of three generations of slaves, from Susan and her daughter Clara to Clara's daughter, whose father is never revealed, all of whom work on the plantation of President James Madison and his wife Dolley.

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