Clotel

This 1853 novel, written by an abolitionist and considered a classic, tells the piercing story of a fictional daughter of President Thomas Jefferson. JD Jackson's narration is unwavering and profoundly impactful. The details of this story are brutal, but Jackson's delivery is more resolute than emotionally charged. His pace is moderate, and his tone is formal and precise in accentuating the circumstances of slaves, especially those of mixed race. Many of the chapters begin and end with poetry, which he delivers with a lyricism somewhat reminiscent of call and response. Although this story is fictionalized, it includes true historical accounts. Jackson presents Clotel in a manner that grips the listener. T.E.C. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine