Historical fiction book · Curated
Roots
Alex Haley · historical fiction
Series: Roots
In the spring of 1750 Kunta Kinte is born in Juffure, on the Gambia River; in 1767 he is shipped on the Lord Ligonier and sold in Annapolis, and the novel follows seven generations of his family in America down to the author. Alex Haley’s 1976 novel is early-modern saga historical fiction of that line—the Middle Passage, slavery in Virginia and North Carolina, and emancipation.
Why read it: A widely searched historical novel—the Haley title readers look up by name, and an American-family counterpart to Homegoing already on the shelf (not Queen).
About this historical novel
Roots by Alex Haley is historical fiction set around 1750–1976 in the Early modern / Regency / Napoleonic / Civil War / Victorian / Gilded Age / Late 20th century period with key settings including Juffure, the Gambia, the Lord Ligonier, Annapolis. In the spring of 1750 Kunta Kinte is born in Juffure, on the Gambia River; in 1767 he is shipped on the Lord Ligonier and sold in Annapolis, and the novel follows seven generations of his family in America down to the author. Alex Haley’s 1976 novel is early-modern saga historical fiction of that line—the Middle Passage, slavery in Virginia and North Carolina, and emancipation.
On HisFic we tag it under 7. Family saga and 4. Biographical fiction so you can pair it with similar story types. Recurring themes include slavery, the Middle Passage, family, memory, and emancipation. A widely searched historical novel—the Haley title readers look up by name, and an American-family counterpart to Homegoing already on the shelf (not Queen).
Use HisFic’s free journey planner to stay in this era or subgenre, save titles to a want-to-read list in your browser, and open Amazon when you are ready to buy. HisFic is discovery-only—not a bookstore—so pages like this exist to help you choose the next historical novel with intent.
Plot summary
In the spring of 1750 Kunta Kinte is born in Juffure, on the Gambia River; in 1767 he is shipped on the Lord Ligonier and sold in Annapolis, and the novel follows seven generations of his family in America down to the author. Alex Haley’s 1976 novel is early-modern saga historical fiction of that line—the Middle Passage, slavery in Virginia and North Carolina, and emancipation. A widely searched historical novel—the Haley title readers look up by name, and an American-family counterpart to Homegoing already on the shelf (not Queen).
Subgenres
Eras
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Regions & places
Africa · North America
Juffure · the Gambia · the Lord Ligonier · Annapolis · Virginia · North Carolina
Themes
- slavery
- the Middle Passage
- family
- memory
- emancipation
Tags
saga · classic · bestseller