← Back
Home › Historical Fiction › Roots
Roots book cover
Historical Fiction · Dark

Seven generations of an African American family, from Gambia to freedom

Roots

by Alex Haley

See it on Amazon
1976Moderate readSlow pace

What it is about

Alex Haley traces his family from Kunta Kinte, taken from Gambia as a slave in 1767, through his descendants to emancipation. The 1976 book won a special Pulitzer Prize and its TV series drew a huge audience.

Who will enjoy it

Readers who enjoy stories set firmly in a real time and place, with a dark mood and an unhurried pace. It is a read that rewards some attention.

Themes: Slavery · Family · Heritage

Screen adaptation

Roots (TV, 1977) · Roots (TV, 2016)

See it on Amazon

Page count and cover shown for: Selected edition

About the author

Alex Haley1 book on Tori Books

Similar books

Beloved coverBelovedToni MorrisonA Breath of Snow and Ashes coverA Breath of Snow and AshesDiana GabaldonWritten in My Own Heart’s Blood coverWritten in My Own Heart’s BloodDiana GabaldonAn Echo in the Bone coverAn Echo in the BoneDiana GabaldonProperty coverPropertyValerie MartinThe Confessions of Nat Turner coverThe Confessions of Nat TurnerWilliam StyronSacred Hunger coverSacred HungerBarry UnsworthThe Thorn Birds coverThe Thorn BirdsColleen McCulloughThe Fiery Cross coverThe Fiery CrossDiana GabaldonThe Night Watchman coverThe Night WatchmanLouise ErdrichGo Tell the Bees That I Am Gone coverGo Tell the Bees That I Am GoneDiana GabaldonEast of Eden coverEast of EdenJohn Steinbeck