The Strange History of the American Quadroon

“In her lively, comprehensive book, Clark broaches society’s historical fascination with quadroons. . . . [She] weaves real-life examples with an encyclopedic overview of the widespread effects both the American and Haitian Revolutions had on cultural perceptions of a nebulous social class.” — Publishers Weekly

“Richly-researched and compelling. . . . Dr. Clark’s work does not disappoint. Her scholarship clears away the smoke and pulls back the veils on much received wisdom, revealing just how empowered, and how impressive our women of color ancestors could be. . . . A page turner.” — Huffington Post Blog

“Clark tells a masterful story of the quadroon’s migration from the Caribbean to the United States, surfacing in Philadelphia, and settling in New Orleans. . . . Scholars will find this book fascinating.” — Early American Literature

“Clark’s thoroughly researched and beautifully written book replaces the simplistic and stereotypical accounts we have inherited from previous generations of scholars.” — American Historical Review

“A rich contribution to our understandings about the relationship between mythmaking and the creation of race, gender, and sex-based hierarchies in the Atlantic world.” — The Historian

“A book that historians of New Orleans and antebellum sexuality cannot ignore.” — Journal of Southern History

“Focused primarily on history but also incorporating literature, Clark creates a case study to explain the historical origins of New Orleans’ reputation as the exotic home of the almost mythical American ‘quadroon,’ often portrayed as the ‘tragic mulatto.’” — American Studies Journal

“Particularly well-written.” — Journal of American History

“Jump[ing] headlong into [the] intersection of history, memory and mythmaking. . . Clark offers a credible alternative history. . . [and] eloquent and persuasive evidence that race was not simply a byproduct of slavery’s racism, but was diligently and deliberately produced. It will surely prove impossible to look at the American quadroon the same way again.” — H-Law

“Clark has made a significant contribution to our understanding of the intertwined histories of race and gender in early New Orleans.” — Library Journal