Saturday, June 27, 2009

57. The Lost German Slave Girl by John Bailey

Challenges
Book Around the States
Louisiana
I've put off reading this book because it didn't look very interesting to me. So I was pleasantly surprised with Bailey's telling of this true tale. He originally meant to write a treatise about slavery in the 1800's but found this story and knew he could incorporate his research into telling about Sally Miller. His facts are heartbreaking, unbelievable, and always thought-provoking. It's hard to understand the mentality that created and sustained slavery for so many years.

Sally Miller is believed by many to be a German girl who went missing at the age of five and was later found by other Germans when she was over thirty and a slave. The subsequent detective work and trial make up most of the story and it was pretty gripping stuff. I'm not sure I agree with Bailey's conclusions but it was still a great story and a sobering look at one of America's greatest shames.

Rating: 4.5

3 comments:

  1. Hmm...this sounds like a book I would enjoy! I hadn't heard of it before so thanks for pointing it out!

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  2. I never heard of this one, but I'm adding it to my TBR List - sounds good. Thank you.

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  3. I think I would like to read this one.

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