A brief yet insightful recollection of serving the 4th president of the USA, written by the president's slave, Paul Jennings.
Paul Jennings was born a slave and worked for the Madison family at Montpelier, their estate in Virginia. He was only 10 years old when James Madison became the 4th president of the USA and they moved to the White House. Jennings continued to serve Madison after his presidency, and about 10-years after Madison died, Jennings was finally, able to buy his freedom.
The importance of James Madison's involvement in the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights is undeniable. But, this memoir offers a more personal and heartfelt insight into James Madison's presidency, the war of 1812, and the complexities of human relationships in a time of slavery.
Paul Jennings' memories of the state of the White House upon their arrival and the changes it underwent also shed a light onto the role of the first lady, Dolley Todd Madison, as she saw to the upkeep and entertainment within the White House.
This book is so captivating that you will be forgiven for devouring it in one sitting, and then again as you yearn for more.
