Book Summary
Hardcover library edition, releasing simultaneously with the paperback!
About the Book
Hardcover library edition, releasing simultaneously with the paperback!
In 1869 a kingdom rose in the South. And Louella was its queen.
Over the twenty-four years she was enslaved on the Montgomery Plantation, Louella learned to feel one thing: hate. Hate for the man who sold her mother. Hate for the overseer who left her daddy to hang from a noose. Hate so powerful there’s no room in her heart for love, not even for the honorable Reverend William, whom she likes and respects enough to marry.
But when William finally listens to Louella’s pleas and leads the formerly enslaved people off the plantation, Louella begins to replace her hate with hope. Hope that they will find a place where they can live free from fear. Hope that despite her many unanswered prayers, she can learn to trust for new miracles.
Soon, William and Louella become the appointed king and queen of their self-proclaimed Kingdom of the Happy Land. And though they are still surrounded by opposition, they continue to share a message of joy and goodness—and fight for the freedom and dignity of all.
Transformative and breathtakingly honest, The American Queen shares the unsung true history of a kingdom built as a refuge for the courageous people who dared to dream of a different way of life.
- Based on a true story
- Inspiring and thoughtful read
- Stand-alone novel
- Book length: approximately 102,000 words
- Includes discussion questions for book clubs
Reviews
'The American Queen brings to light another hidden triumph in Black American history. Queen Louella is frankly a woman that everyone should know. Filled with bravery and cultural beauty, this marvel of a novel transported me while educating me on the sheer determination of an emancipated community to not only survive but to also thrive.'--Sadeqa Johnson, New York Times bestselling author of The House of Eve
'The American Queen is beautifully told, a story rife with struggle, intrigue, and the indomitable spirit of a woman strong enough to carry the weight of a community, bold enough to dream the impossible, and determined enough to fashion dreams into reality. Louella Montgomery is a woman for the ages. I loved traveling alongside her and meeting the people of The Happy Land.'--Lisa Wingate #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Lost Friends
'Miller (The Light on Halsey Street) captivates with a propulsive historical based on the true story of a group of formerly enslaved people who founded a utopian society in the Appalachian mountains in the 1860s...readers will be won over by Louella's gumption, optimism, and tenacity. Miller brings to enthralling life a hidden gem in American history.'
Product Details
- Imprint: Thomas Nelson
- On Sale: 2024-01-30
- Pages: 368
- Publisher: Thomas Nelson
- Publication Date: 2024-01-30
- Trim Size: 139.000mm x 213.000mm x 0.000mm
- Weight: Weight data not found for this book.
- Category 1 : FICTION / African American / Historical
- Category 2 : FICTION / Christian / Historical
- Category 3 : FICTION / African American / Contemporary Women
