Making Roots: A Nation Captivated

Delmont (Why Busing Failed), an associate history professor at Arizona State University, presents the first book-length study of Roots, Alex Haley’s bestselling 1976 novel. After a brief biographical sketch of Haley’s life and career, Delmont focuses on the book’s evolution over more than 10 years, from Haley’s initial conception of a story of African-American life in the 1930s South to the final century-spanning epic and its adaptation into a record-breaking TV miniseries. This is followed by the popular and critical success of both book and show, and finally by plagiarism lawsuits and claims of fabrication that marred Haley’s achievement. Drawing on his scholarly background, Delmont builds his narrative from extensive archival research. His ability to describe these findings in an engaging style keeps the pages turning. Dramatic episodes come alive, such as the rush to finish the book to meet the TV program’s filming schedule, and excerpts from letters written in response to the book and movie are expertly chosen. Delmont adds depth and complexity to the popular understanding of Roots through his critical exploration of all aspects of the book and original miniseries (a second version released in 2016 isn’t covered here), engaging with both its successes and controversies. [em](Aug.) [/em]