A Long Way from Home
A Long Way from Home by Connie Briscoe is a reissue published by Harper Collins on October 3, 2000, featuring 416 pages in English. This narrative recounts the experiences of three generations—Susie, her daughter Clara, and her granddaughter Susan—who navigate the complexities of life as house slaves on the Montpelier plantation, owned by President James Madison and Dolley Madison. The story explores their deep familial bonds, the pain of their circumstances, and their shared aspiration for freedom, culminating in Susan’s journey toward liberation at the end of the Civil War.
Readers will find a poignant exploration of the joys and struggles faced by these women, highlighting their fierce devotion to one another and their fellow slaves. The narrative delves into themes of historical significance, particularly the impact of slavery on African American lives, as well as the personal desires for autonomy and self-determination. Through the lens of Susie’s experiences and Clara’s dreams, the book presents a rich tapestry of life on the plantation, emphasizing the complexities of freedom and the realities of their existence.
Official synopsis Publisher
A Long Way from Home recounts the joys, pain, and ultimate triumph of three generations: Susie; her daughter, Clara; and her granddaughter, Susan. Born and reared as house slaves on Montpelier, the Virginia plantation of President James Madison and his wife, Dolley Madison, they are united by love, by a fierce devotion to each other and their fellow slaves, and by a growing desire for freedom – a dream that will finally come to fruition for Susan at the end of the Civil War. Trained as a house slave since childhood, Susie enjoys the privileges that her position as maid to Miss Dolley provides her and Clara. For Susie, life holds no mystery, no promise beyond the boundaries of the plantation itself – a lesson she tries to impart to the dreamy Clara, who longs to control her own destiny despite her mother’s frightening admonition: “You don’t know a thing about freedom, ’cause I don’t know anything about it. It takes money and know-how to live free. You don’t just up and do it.”.
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