Clotel

William Wells Brown's Clotel (1853) is a groundbreaking novel, notable as the first written by an African American, and was published while Brown was still considered property in the U.S. Inspired by the alleged relationship between Thomas Jefferson and his slave Sally Hemings, the novel explores the lives of Jefferson's mistresses and their descendants, challenging the narrative of American freedom and equality. This edition also includes a variety of documents such as excerpts from Brown's research, political essays, sermons, and proclamations, enriching the discussion on race, slavery, and resistance during that era.