Libertie is an elegantly layered, beautifully rendered tour de force that is not to be missed.” “This immersive story is a soaring exploration of what 'freedom' truly means. A revelatory and enchanting piece of historical fiction.” “Kaitlyn Greenidge weaves together an intricate narrative about colorism, classism and community.” Margaret Wilkerson Sexton, The New York Times Book Review

The sheer force of Greenidge’s vision for, for us all, gives us hope that it won’t be long now.” Greenidge both mines history and transcends time, centering her post-Civil-War New York story around an enduring quest for freedom.

Libertie is a feat of monumental thematic imagination. “Kaitlyn Greenidge’s historical fiction unites the African diaspora. Winner of the New England Book Award and New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Award for Fiction Inspired by the life of one of the first Black female doctors in the United States, critically acclaimed and Whiting Award–winning author Kaitlyn Greenidge returns with an unforgettable and immersive novel that will resonate with readers eager to understand our present through a deep, moving, and lyrical dive into our past.Ī Roxane Gay Audacious Book Club SelectionĪ Well-Read Black Girl Book Club Selection As she tries to parse what freedom actually means for a Black woman, Libertie struggles with where she might find it-for herself and for generations to come. When a young man from Haiti proposes to Libertie and promises a better life on the island, she accepts, only to discover that she is still subordinate to him and all men. But Libertie is hungry for something else-is there really only one way to be independent? And she is constantly reminded that, unlike her light-skinned mother, she will not be able to pass for white. “A stunning look at what freedom really means.” - The New York TimesĬoming of age in a free Black community in Reconstruction-era Brooklyn, Libertie Sampson is all too aware that her mother, a physician, has a vision for their future together: Libertie is to go to medical school and practice alongside her. A New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2021 and Best Historical Fiction PickĪ Best Book of the Year: Washington Post, TIME, Los Angeles Times, and Christian Science Monitor

Libertie book review