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The Ballad of Billy Lee - George Washington's Favorite Slave
"One of the most poignant untold stories in American history." --
Joseph J.Ellis, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner.
Billly Lee, an African-American slave, was at George Washington's side for over 30 years. Although never a relationship between equals, it was an intimate and enduring connection. A superb horseman, bold soldier and literate aide, Billy Lee stood next to Washington when he crossed the Delaware, galloped at Washihngton's side in battle--a slave, armed with a pistol, carbine and spyglass--served with him in frozen Valley Forge and through the difficult years to the final victory at Yorktown. He was responsile for Washington's public and private papers at conventions and congresses, but Billy remained a slave, always yearning to be freed, and his slavery cost him the love of his life--yet his loyalty to Washington was unwavering.
Award-winning author Len Lamensdorf's latest novel, "The Ballad of Billy Lee -- George Washington's Favorite Slave," based on his acclaimed one man play, is a unique and remarkable "buddy" story which delves into the quest for freedom, from the tyranny of England to the chains of slavery. Introduced by , best-selling author and historian, Joseph J. Ellis, "The Ballad of Billy Lee," defty weaves the history of the American Revolution with the personal story of Washington's rise to power and Billy Lee's exciting but arduous life as a sturdy and clever aide. Writing to Lamensdorf after watching his play, Ron Chernow, winner of the Pulitzer prize for his biographies of Alexander Hamilton and Washington, noted: "You have done a beautiful job of coaxing [Billy Lee] out into the sunlight and giving him the attention he most assuredly deserves. My sincere congratulations. ...I share your strongly held view that it would be wonderful if more Americans were acquainted with the remarkable Billy Lee."
This novel is historically accurate and includes 34 illustrations, a complete timeline, bibliograpy, afterword, striking video and other links and an extenive discussion devoted to comments from Mount Vernon historian, Mary Thompson.
BOOK REVIEWS
Joseph J.Ellis, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner.
Billly Lee, an African-American slave, was at George Washington's side for over 30 years. Although never a relationship between equals, it was an intimate and enduring connection. A superb horseman, bold soldier and literate aide, Billy Lee stood next to Washington when he crossed the Delaware, galloped at Washihngton's side in battle--a slave, armed with a pistol, carbine and spyglass--served with him in frozen Valley Forge and through the difficult years to the final victory at Yorktown. He was responsile for Washington's public and private papers at conventions and congresses, but Billy remained a slave, always yearning to be freed, and his slavery cost him the love of his life--yet his loyalty to Washington was unwavering.
Award-winning author Len Lamensdorf's latest novel, "The Ballad of Billy Lee -- George Washington's Favorite Slave," based on his acclaimed one man play, is a unique and remarkable "buddy" story which delves into the quest for freedom, from the tyranny of England to the chains of slavery. Introduced by , best-selling author and historian, Joseph J. Ellis, "The Ballad of Billy Lee," defty weaves the history of the American Revolution with the personal story of Washington's rise to power and Billy Lee's exciting but arduous life as a sturdy and clever aide. Writing to Lamensdorf after watching his play, Ron Chernow, winner of the Pulitzer prize for his biographies of Alexander Hamilton and Washington, noted: "You have done a beautiful job of coaxing [Billy Lee] out into the sunlight and giving him the attention he most assuredly deserves. My sincere congratulations. ...I share your strongly held view that it would be wonderful if more Americans were acquainted with the remarkable Billy Lee."
This novel is historically accurate and includes 34 illustrations, a complete timeline, bibliograpy, afterword, striking video and other links and an extenive discussion devoted to comments from Mount Vernon historian, Mary Thompson.
BOOK REVIEWS
- GenresHistory
300 pages, Paperback
First published September 26, 2012
3 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Len Lamensdorf
13 books1 follower Len Lamensdorf is the award-winning author of 9 novels, 3 full-length plays and one successful feature film. His novels, published by Simon & Schuster, Delacorte and SeaScape Press in the United States and translated into other languages, have won Gold and Silver Benjamin Franklin Awards, three IPPY (Independent Publisher) awards and a ForeWord Magazine Book-of-the-Year.
Len’s young adult Will to Conquer trilogy won the Children’s Choice Award from the prestigious Children’s Book Council and the International Reading Association. His historical novel, The Ballad of Billy Lee – George Washington’s Favorite Slave, was acclaimed by Pulitzer Prize-winning historians Ron Chernow and Joseph J. Ellis, who called it, “One of the most poignant untold stories in American history.” It was a finalist for ForeWord Book of the Year, as is his current thriller, The Mexican Gardener. Adding the new The Murdered Messiah series, brings the total of Len's published books to 14.
Len is an honors graduate of the University of Chicago and the U. of C. Law School (editor, Law Review) and completed his post-graduate work at Harvard Law. He also studied playwriting at UCLA with Kenneth Macgowan, founder of the Provincetown Players and the original producer of Eugene O’Neill.
In another incarnation, Len was the builder (design, construction, management) of several large mall shopping centers and office buildings.
Len is married, the father of two children and grandfather of six. He lives in Westlake Village, California.
His personal website is www.lenlamensdorf.com
Len’s young adult Will to Conquer trilogy won the Children’s Choice Award from the prestigious Children’s Book Council and the International Reading Association. His historical novel, The Ballad of Billy Lee – George Washington’s Favorite Slave, was acclaimed by Pulitzer Prize-winning historians Ron Chernow and Joseph J. Ellis, who called it, “One of the most poignant untold stories in American history.” It was a finalist for ForeWord Book of the Year, as is his current thriller, The Mexican Gardener. Adding the new The Murdered Messiah series, brings the total of Len's published books to 14.
Len is an honors graduate of the University of Chicago and the U. of C. Law School (editor, Law Review) and completed his post-graduate work at Harvard Law. He also studied playwriting at UCLA with Kenneth Macgowan, founder of the Provincetown Players and the original producer of Eugene O’Neill.
In another incarnation, Len was the builder (design, construction, management) of several large mall shopping centers and office buildings.
Len is married, the father of two children and grandfather of six. He lives in Westlake Village, California.
His personal website is www.lenlamensdorf.com
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