Clotel: Or, The President’s Daughter: A Narrative of Slave Life in The United States

The novel revolves around the life of Clotel, the daughter of Thomas Jefferson (the third president of the United States) and his enslaved mistress, Sally Hemings. While the specific historical details about Jefferson’s relationship with Hemings are the subject of historical debate, Brown uses the fictionalized character of Clotel to explore the impact of slavery on mixed-race individuals, particularly women, and the brutal realities of slavery in the South.The story follows Clotel through her life, from her birth on Jefferson’s estate to her eventual sale into slavery. It weaves together personal struggles and broader social commentary on the injustice of slavery and the racial hierarchy in the United States.