"Neil Henry combines an investigative journalist's zeal for fact-digging with a talented writer's insight and sensitivity to produce an extraordinarily moving portrayal of his own racially-divided family."--James V. Risser, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist
""Pearl's Secret is a haunting, boldly conceived memoir that explores the warped complexities of Black-White relations in the United States with a compassionate grace. A seasoned journalist and artful storyteller, Henry jars the reader into contemplating the idiocy of racism by bringing us along on his geneological journey of poignant discovery."--Douglas Brinkley, Professor of History and Director of the Eisenhower Center for American Studies at the University of New Orleans
""Pearl's Secret is riveting--I couldn't stop turning pages. Neil Henry's extraordinary racial journey takes him through fascinating terrain--both personal and historical. His relentless search for his white roots is both engaging and moving. As he traces the migration of his English great great grandfather from Kent to a small backwater town in the American South, Henry uncovers a wealth of surprising details. His family historyand the remarkable climax to his search make this an unforgettable story."--Gordon Parks, author of "The Learning Tree
"With this book, Neil Henry, an outstanding newspaper journalist who has become an influential academician, joins the growing ranks of African-American authors in newsrooms and the academy who are generously sharing their lives and experiences in vivid examinations of the realities of race in a changing world. It is a moving American story with poignant lessons for all of us."--Leonard Downie Jr., executive editor of "The Washington Post
""Pearl's Secret is an elegant, intimate journey through the American past and present. It slides effortlessly among genres--detective story, memoir, history--and succeeds at every level. Its revelations about race and identity lie at the wounded heart of American culture."--Steve Coll, managing editor of "The Washington Post
"Neil Henry's journey to find the truth of his roots is a remarkable mix of investigative and personal journalism at its most courageous and compelling."--Tom Goldstein, Dean, Graduate School of Journalism, Columbia University
"This fine book tells an unusual and surprising story. It also introduces a remarkable writer. I read it with great interest and pleasure and I expect that you will too."--Donald E. Graham, Chairman, "The Washington Post
"A kind of real life detective story where what's been lost and what's finally found is part of the author's identity. Henry is a dogged, civilized sleuth. What he finds is revealing, ugly, and fascinating. "Pearl's Secret deals with the racial divide not as the subject for a treatise on hate but for one on healing. That, in itself, is news."--John Lahr, authorof "Prick Up Your Ears: The Biography of Joe Orton
"I love Neil Henry and his work. "Pearl's Secret is a beauty and his best work. He has found the narrative line--and humanity--in the generations. Like all great books it is a tale of self-discovery and surprise."--Bob Woodward, co-author of "All the President's Men
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"Neil Henry combines an investigative journalist's zeal for fact-digging with a talented writer's insight and sensitivity to produce an extraordinarily moving portrayal of his own racially-divided family."--James V. Risser, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist
""Pearl's Secret is a haunting, boldly conceived memoir that explores the warped complexities of Black-White relations in the United States with a compassionate grace. A seasoned journalist and artful storyteller, Henry jars the reader into contemplating the idiocy of racism by bringing us along on his geneological journey of poignant discovery."--Douglas Brinkley, Professor of History and Director of the Eisenhower Center for American Studies at the University of New Orleans
""Pearl's Secret is riveting--I couldn't stop turning pages. Neil Henry's extraordinary racial journey takes him through fascinating terrain--both personal and historical. His relentless search for his white roots is both engaging and moving. As he traces the migration of his English great great grandfather from Kent to a small backwater town in the American South, Henry uncovers a wealth of surprising details. His family historyand the remarkable climax to his search make this an unforgettable story."--Gordon Parks, author of "The Learning Tree
"With this book, Neil Henry, an outstanding newspaper journalist who has become an influential academician, joins the growing ranks of African-American authors in newsrooms and the academy who are generously sharing their lives and experiences in vivid examinations of the realities of race in a changing world. It is a moving American story with poignant lessons for all of us."--Leonard Downie Jr., executive editor of "The Washington Post
""Pearl's Secret is an elegant, intimate journey through the American past and present. It slides effortlessly among genres--detective story, memoir, history--and succeeds at every level. Its revelations about race and identity lie at the wounded heart of American culture."--Steve Coll, managing editor of "The Washington Post
"Neil Henry's journey to find the truth of his roots is a remarkable mix of investigative and personal journalism at its most courageous and compelling."--Tom Goldstein, Dean, Graduate School of Journalism, Columbia University
"This fine book tells an unusual and surprising story. It also introduces a remarkable writer. I read it with great interest and pleasure and I expect that you will too."--Donald E. Graham, Chairman, "The Washington Post
"A kind of real life detective story where what's been lost and what's finally found is part of the author's identity. Henry is a dogged, civilized sleuth. What he finds is revealing, ugly, and fascinating. "Pearl's Secret deals with the racial divide not as the subject for a treatise on hate but for one on healing. That, in itself, is news."--John Lahr, authorof "Prick Up Your Ears: The Biography of Joe Orton
"I love Neil Henry and his work. "Pearl's Secret is a beauty and his best work. He has found the narrative line--and humanity--in the generations. Like all great books it is a tale of self-discovery and surprise."--Bob Woodward, co-author of "All the President's Men
Imprint | University of California Press |
Country of origin | United States |
Release date | September 2002 |
Availability | Expected to ship within 12 - 17 working days |
First published | September 2002 |
Authors | Neil Henry |
Dimensions | 210 x 140 x 25mm (L x W x T) |
Format | Paperback - Trade |
Pages | 322 |
Edition | New ed |
ISBN-13 | 978-0-520-22730-9 |
Barcode | 9780520227309 |
Categories | |
LSN | 0-520-22730-1 |