American Tapestry: The Story of the Black, White, and Multiracial Ancestors of Michelle Obama (P.S.) - Softcover

Swarns, Rachel L.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0061999873 ISBN 13: 9780061999871

Publisher: Amistad, 2020

Synopsis

A remarkable history of First Lady Michelle Obama's mixed ancestry, American Tapestry by Rachel L. Swarns is nothing less than a breathtaking and expansive portrait of America itself.In this extraordinary feat of genealogical research--in the tradition of The Hemmingses of Monticello and Slaves in the Family--author Swarns, a respected Washington-based reporter for the New York Times, tells the fascinating and hitherto untold story of Ms. Obama's black, white, and multiracial ancestors; a history that the First Lady herself did not know.At once epic, provocative, and inspiring, American Tapestry is more than a true family saga; it is an illuminating mirror in which we may all see ourselves.

About this title

Review:

"Extraordinary. . . . A fascinating account of the First Lady's family. . . . No political [book] has ever looked like this one."--New York Times Book Review

"Richly detailed. . . . A lushly layered portrait of the nation itself. . . .Swarns weaves a narrative in which massive social changes (slavery, Reconstruction, the Great Migration) and the microscopic details of DNA play equally important roles."--Boston Globe

"Swarns has unearthed and disseminated crucial American history here. . . . A remarkable, only-in-America story that Swarns tells with care and thoughtfulness. . . . Her passion for the story is clear and striking. . . . This book is a worthy and significant endeavor."--Washington Post

"Tremendously moving. . . . Swarns provides numerous tales of heartbreak and achievement, many of which essentially make up the American story."--Kirkus Reviews

"[A] meticulous, detailed investigation into Mrs. Obama's family tree. . . . American Tapestry holds rewards."--Denver Post

"Swarns discovers an interesting world that not only helps to define the First Lady's personal background but is also an essential piece of the fabric that makes up America's roots. . . . A great glimpse into America's multicultural foundations."--Upscale Magazine

"[A] layered, scrupulously researched, and wrenching chronicle."--Publishers Weekly

"A meticulously researched and eloquently written real-life detective story."--Essence

"Swarns paints a vivid, intriguing portrait of people whose struggles, losses, and triumphs speak volumes about the pull of family and the power of American endurance."--Los Angeles Times

"An engrossing book. . . . Swarns outlines the fascinating journeys taken by various ancestors of First Lady Michelle Obama--the people who, across the generations, helped make her who she is today."--Library Journal

From the Back Cover:

Michelle Obama's family saga is a remarkable, quintessentially American story--a journey from slavery to the White House in five generations. In this prodigiously researched epic, New York Times correspondent Rachel L. Swarns traces that complex and fascinating tale--from the men who fought in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, to the mothers and fathers who endured the horrors of slavery and the indignities of segregation to build a better future for their children--uncovering details about Mrs. Obama's black, white, and multiracial forebears that even the First Lady herself did not know.

Though an intimate family history, American Tapestry is also the collective chronicle of our changing nation, a beautifully rendered and singularly inspiring story with resonance for us all.

About this edition

• Publisher: Amistad
• Publication date: 2020
• ISBN 10: 0061999873
• ISBN 13: 9780061999871
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 426