Roots: The Saga of an American Family by Alex Haley (Acceptable, 1977, Pbk, 729 pages, Dell)

Used in acceptable condition. ISBN 0440174643

Roots: The Saga of an American Family is a significant work of literature by Alex Haley, published in 1976. It tells the story of Kunta Kinte, a African man who is captured and sold into slavery in North America, and traces his lineage through seven generations of his descendants. The narrative starts in Juffure, a town in the Gambia where Kunta, born in the mid-18th century, lives until he is 17. His subsequent life as a slave in Virginia forms the heart of the story, but it is his resilience, and that of his descendants, that drives this epic.

The book details Kunta Kinte's life in his village, his capture, and the horrific journey to America aboard a slave ship. Once in Virginia, Kunta refuses to forget his African heritage, despite brutal attempts to beat it out of him. Through his daughter Kizzy, her son George, also known as "Chicken George," and subsequent generations, Haley recounts the struggles and achievements of Kinte's descendants, up to Haley himself. The saga portrays the harrowing experiences of slavery and the loss of cultural identity, but also the hope, determination, and enduring spirit of one family.

Haley's work, blending historical facts with fiction, struck a chord in the American consciousness, challenging the nation to confront its past of slavery and racism. Not only was Roots a bestseller but its adaptation into a television miniseries captured the attention of a vast audience, becoming a cultural phenomenon. Today, Roots remains highly relevant in discussions about race, identity, genealogy, and historical memory.