Clotel, or, The President's Daughter

Clotel, or, The President's Daughter is a novel by William Wells Brown, published in London in December 1853. Often regarded as the first African-American novel, it explores the lives of mulattoes in America and critiques the immoral dynamics of master-slave relationships. The story follows Currer, the former mistress of President Thomas Jefferson, and her daughters, Althesea and Clotel, as they navigate the harsh realities of slavery after Jefferson's death. The novel highlights the destructive impact of slavery on African American families and the tragic experiences of mixed-race individuals.