Review of "A History of the African-American People" by Strom Thurmond (as told to Percival Everett & James Kincaid)

  

This satirical novel, first published in 2004 and re-released in 2026, is hilarious and completely bonkers. In the epistolary story - related mostly in letters, notes, and memos - Senator Strom Thurmond (1902 - 2003) is writing a history of the African-American people with the help of ghostwriters Percival Everett and James Kincaid.

This is the background, in case you need a refresher: Strom Thurmond served as a U.S. Senator from South Carolina for nearly half a century, from 1954 to 2003. Thurmond was a notorious racist and segregationist who promoted Jim Crow laws under the guise of supporting states rights.


Senator Strom Thurmond

*****

The book opens in 2002 when Senator Strom Thurmond is approaching his 100th birthday.



The Senator's advisor Barton Wilkes writes to Simon & Schuster Publishers in New York, proposing a book called 'A History of the African-American People' by Strom Thurmond.



Wilkes asserts, "As the history of the African-American people has been, to a great extent, coextensive with the Senator's own, he will be able to draw on his own life experience (and not just in politics) for much of his material."

The book proposal is followed by a good deal of correspondence among aide Barton Wilkes;



a lower echelon Simon & Schuster editor called Martin Snell;



and Snell's novice assistant R. Juniper McCloud.



Coming to believe Thurmond's book will be a bestseller that gets him a promotion, Snell approves the project. Two professors from the University of Southern California are engaged to ghostwrite: Percival Everett - a Black writer; and James Kincaid - a White scholar and author.


Percival Everett (left) and James Kincaid

Everett and Kincaid repeatedly ask Wilkes about Thurmond's plan for the history book, but all Wilkes sends are excerpts from an anthology of documents compiled by Herbert Aptheker. Examples of the passages are:

➤➤ From 'An Address of Delegates of the State Convention of the Colored People of South Carolina to the White Inhabitants of South Carolina' in 1865: "We fully recognize the truth of the maxim, 'The gods help those that help themselves'." Wilkes asserts, "That is, they simply wanted the opportunity to develop their domestic and commercial lives by helping themselves."



➤➤ From a speech by Booker T. Washington in 1884: "The best course to pursue in regard to the civil rights bill of the South is to let it alone.....Good schoolteachers and money to pay them will be more potent in settling the race question than many civil rights bills and investigating committees."


Booker T. Washington

➤➤ From an address to the U.S. Congress from 'The National Association of Colored Men' in 1896: "We mark the opening of the militant period of our race in this country....Our calm deliberate advice is for every member of the race henceforth to employ every weapon of every kind of warfare...in the demand for every right."



It becomes clear that Thurmond and Wilkes' agenda is to clean up the Senator's reputation, and Thurmond himself tells Everett and Kincaid, "I'm getting old...And when I die I'd like to have a seat at the big party....I'm talking about heaven....I'm trying to make amends, trying to have my parking ticket validated...I realize I've done some underhanded things and that I've hurt a lot of colored people. But hell, I hope I've hurt as many liberals and Jews...Times have changed. Now we've got Muslims and Arabs to hate. You know a lot of them are pretty dark. What's that tell you?"



In addition, when Everett and Kincaid visit Senator Thurmond in Washington, the politician exhibits a foggy memory. Kincaid comments to Everett, "Is he a piece of work or what? Can't recall if the servants were black." And Everett responds, "I should have asked if the slaves were black."

Wilkes' letters to Everett and Kincaid also demonstrate his own insensitivity. As an example, Wilkes writes:

"Dear Percival and Jim,

.....Tell me more about yourselves. Which one is Black?....Only one of you is Black, right? Neither name is much of a giveaway, is it? But then, they seldom are. Jackson, perhaps, or Johnson, but then you can get into serious troubles by making such assumptions, believe you me. Now, if one of you were named Shumoonunu Ackabawka, then I wouldn't have to ask. But neither of you is, so I must."



Though a good part of the book skewers Strom Thurmond and Barton Wilkes, authors Everett and Kincaid take the opportunity to amuse themselves with endless 'jokes' about the publishing industry; loony editors; horny men; niche books; and more.



For instance, editorial assistant R. Juniper McCloud - who's a sort of dogsbody for the African-American history book - attracts unwanted sexual attention from his boss Martin Snell AND from Thurmond's assistant Barton Wilkes.

Amongst myriad other things, Snell sends Juniper a note inviting him to a St. Patrick's Day party. Snell writes, "We'll each wear (or adorn ourselves with) green in places...There will be prizes for those who can most successfully search out each other's green pastures, so to speak." Snell signs the missive, "Love and I mean it, Martin."



As for kinky Wilkes, he repeatedly sends Juniper suggestive letters, and in one note, Wilkes describes a childhood game of doctor. Wilkes recalls, "I was always the patient, carefully undressed and probed by a large hospital staff of neighborhood and visiting girls, and boys too. From the time I was 8 until well into my teens I played this part. The attending physicians ranged in age from 4 to 16 at least...I remember being very careful to present myself in a variety of comely ways, seeking out nice undergarments and, every now and then perfumes."



In addition to sending wildly inappropriate letters, Wilkes arranges to meet Juniper in Atlantic City, to advance the African-American history project. There Wilkes insists they play board games, go on carnival rides, cook in their room, and play Twister.

Other individuals who appear in the book include:

➤➤ Juniper's sister Reba McCloud - a sweet soul who's trying to help her brother;



➤➤ An author called Septic, who's hawking a book called 'Class Ass' - a tell-all about her life as a pimp and prostitute. Septic describes acting in and directing porn (adult and child); committing robbery and assault; selling and taking drugs; and more.



➤➤ A Simon & Schuster senior editor named Ralph Vendetti - a Mafia type in charge of cookbooks, self-help books, true crime, unauthorized biographies, and diet books. One diet book is the 'Butter Bliss Diet', based on eating ice cream, milk, yogurt, butter, cheese, bread, sweets, and fried foods - and avoiding vegetables.



At one point, a rival editor sends Vendetti a letter calling Vendetti's mother a slut and saying vile things like, "You aren't worth a pile of cowshit as an editor....That's why they give you all those books aimed at fairies and stupid women....and the ones on pimps and whores....I may just run you down with my car. I'd have to go back over you thirty times to get all the glop out of your fat body." The letter has dire repercussions.

There's much more hilarity in the story, which I enjoyed. I can imagine authors Everett and Kincaid laughing themselves silly while penning the narrative.



I highly recommend the book (though MAGA fans might not be the intended audience).

I had access to the digital book and the audiobook, narrated by James Fouhey, who does a fabulous job with the voices. You'll want to follow along in the text though, to keep up with the story.

Thanks to Netgalley, Percival Everett, James Kincaid, and Akashic Books for an ARC of the novel.

Rating: 4 stars

Review of "The Devil in the Details: A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery" by Vicki Delany

In this 11th book in the 'Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mysteries', bookstore manager/amateur sleuth Gemma Doyle investigates two deaths. The book works fine as a standalone.

*****

British native Gemma Doyle now lives in the town of West London in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. There she co-owns and manages 'The Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium' for her Uncle Arthur, a nonagenarian who likes to travel and indulge in his hobbies.



Uncle Arthur, Gemma, and her best friend Jayne Wilson.....



.....co-own 'Mrs. Hudson's Tearoom', which adjoins the bookstore, and both establishments do a lively business - especially during tourist season.



Gemma prides herself on having Sherlockian powers of observation, and often embroils herself in murder investigations. This sometimes helps Gemma's boyfriend, Police Detective Ryan Ashburton, but it usually irritates his partner, Detective Louise Estrada.



*****

As the story opens it's January 6, and there are two big birthday parties in West London: an afternoon celebration for Sherlock Holmes at Gemma's bookstore.....





.....and an evening party for Jayne Wilson at the Blue Harbor Café, which is owned by Jayne's fiancé Andy Whitehall.



Jayne's birthday shindig is a prelude to Jayne and Andy's wedding in six days, and guests include local people as well as relatives who've come to town ahead of time.



The birthday party is festive, with fine wine and one of three choices for dinner: fish, steak and frites, or pesto pasta - followed by birthday cake.









The celebration is going well, but Gemma notices a couple of glitches. First, Jayne's old boyfriend Robbie Ellis - who still carries a torch for Jayne - has been hired as waitstaff, and he shoots hateful glances at Andy all evening.



Second, Andy's previous girlfriend Tina Armstrong - who's been trying to get Andy back - shows up as an uninvited guest and causes a stir.



The Blue Water Café has an open deck jutting over the bay, and guests go out from time to time to smoke, get a breath of fresh air, or gaze across the water. Tragically, toward the end of the evening, Gemma and Jayne step out on the deck and see Tina Armstrong's body floating in the bay.



Detective Louise Estrada arrives and investigates the incident as a possible murder, with Andy as the prime suspect.



Ryan can't help with the case because he's friends with Andy, but Gemma happily goes into sleuth mode.



The next evening, Gemma's nosing around turns up another dead body, and Gemma is sure the two deaths are related. Gemma's 'suspects' include everyone who was in the Blue Harbor Café on the night of Gemma's party, including a sous chef who argued with Andy; a former gossip columnist writing a tell-all; a restaurateur with financial problems; a rude young woman; and many more.



To interview people, Gemma drops in on them unannounced; corners them in restaurants; bothers their relatives; and generally makes a nuisance of herself. Nevertheless, Gemma's keen powers of observation eventually help her uncover the culprit.

While all this is going on, Gemma still manages her bookstore and takes care of her pets; Jayne still bakes for Mrs. Hudson's Tearoom; and both women prepare for Jayne's wedding by going for dress fittings, making seating arrangements, writing place cards, etc.



Some of my favorite characters in this series are the bookstore cat Moriarty, who likes everyone EXCEPT Gemma;



and bookstore assistant Ashleigh, who has her own inimitable sense of style.



I'd love to dine at the Blue Harbor Café and taste Andy's crab cakes and crab and shrimp curry. 😊



This is an enjoyable cozy mystery, recommended to fans of the genre.

Thanks to Netgalley, Vicki Delaney, and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC of the book.

 Rating: 3.5 stars