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Barbara Chase-Riboud

Author profile

born

June 26, 1939 in Philadelphia, The United States

gender

female

genre

Historical Fiction

About this author

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An American novelist, poet, sculptor and visual artist, perhaps best known for her historical fiction. Much of her work has explored themes related to slavery and exploitation of women.

Chase-Riboud attained international recognition with the publication of her first novel, Sally Hemings, in 1979. The novel has been described as the "first full blown imagining" of Hemings' life as a slave and her relationship with Jefferson.[1] In addition to stimulating considerable controversy, the book earned Chase-Riboud the Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize for the best novel written by an American woman and sold more than one million copies in hardcover.[2] She has received numerous honors for her work, including the Carl Sandburg Prize for poetry and the Wo...more An American novelist, poet, sculptor and visual artist, perhaps best known for her historical fiction. Much of her work has explored themes related to slavery and exploitation of women.

Chase-Riboud attained international recognition with the publication of her first novel, Sally Hemings, in 1979. The novel has been described as the "first full blown imagining" of Hemings' life as a slave and her relationship with Jefferson.[1] In addition to stimulating considerable controversy, the book earned Chase-Riboud the Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize for the best novel written by an American woman and sold more than one million copies in hardcover.[2] She has received numerous honors for her work, including the Carl Sandburg Prize for poetry and the Women's Caucus for Art's lifetime achievement award.[1] In 1965, she became the first American woman to visit the People's Republic of China after the revolution.[3] In 1996, she was knighted by the French Government and received the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.[4] She divides her time between Paris and Rome.

The only child of Vivian May Chase, a histology technician and Charles Edward Chase, a contractor.[5] Chase-Riboud displayed an early talent for the arts and began attending the Fleisher Art Memorial School at the age of 8. She also excelled as an art student at the Philadelphia High School for Girls (now combined with Central High School). Between 1947 and 1954, she continued her training at the Philadelphia Museum School of Art and won an award from Seventeen for one of her prints, which was subsequently purchased by the Museum of Modern Art.[5] Chase-Riboud went on to receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Tyler School at Temple University in 1957. In that same year, she won a John Hay Whitney fellowship to study at the American Academy in Rome for 12 months. There, she created her first bronze sculptures and exhibited her work at the Spoleto Festival in 1957, as well as at the American Academy and the Gallery L'Obeliso the following year.[6] During this time, she traveled to Egypt, where she discovered non-European art.[6] In 1960, Chase-Riboud completed a Master of Fine Arts from Yale University.

After completing her studies, Chase-Riboud moved to Paris.

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Books by Barbara Chase-Riboud

Average rating: 3.75 · 557 ratings · 89 reviews · 12 distinct works

	Sally Hemings 3.84 avg rating — 302 ratings — published 1977 — 13 editions	My rating:
	Hottentot Venus: A Novel 3.58 avg rating — 100 ratings — published 2003 — 5 editions	My rating:
	The President's Daughter 3.75 avg rating — 72 ratings — published 1994 — 9 editions	My rating:
	Echo of Lions 3.80 avg rating — 10 ratings — published 1989 — 2 editions	My rating:
	Sally Hemings 4.67 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 1992	My rating:
	La Grande Sultane: Roman 3.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 1987 — 2 editions	My rating:
	Haaremin valtiatar 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 1987	My rating:
	Haaremin valtiatar 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 1987	My rating:
	La sultana bianca 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	My rating:
	Virginienne 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 1981	My rating:

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Quotes by Barbara Chase-Riboud

“too much love like too much rain begets large and bloody pools of discontent. I see my winter marked in your eyes. Whoever told you I was perfection?'-exerpt from Valide”
― Barbara Chase-Riboud

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
The Book Addicts!: Pigletto's Reading Challenge 2012	6	31	Dec 28, 2011 07:35pm
Historical Fictio...: Jan/Feb '12 Group Read Nominations	24	110	Jan 05, 2012 01:38pm
The Seasonal Read...: Spring Challenge 2012: Completed Tasks -DO NOT DELETE ANY POSTS IN THIS TOPIC	2344	418	May 31, 2012 09:02pm

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