Jordan Freeman Was My Friend

by Richard White

The friendship between eleven-year-old Billy Latham and former slave Jordan Freeman is set against the backdrop of the American Revolution, in a story based on a real-life 1781 massacre at Fort Griswold in Connecticut. By the author of Mister Grey.

223 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1994

About the author

Richard White is the author of many acclaimed histories, including the groundbreaking study of the transcontinentals, Railroaded, winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, the Francis Parkman Prize, and a Pulitzer Prize finalist. He is Margaret Byrne Professor of American History, Emeritus, at Stanford University, and lives near Palo Alto, California.

Reviews

[Dorothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Fort Griswold was my playground as a kid growing up in Groton, CT. I was born across the Thames River in New London, CT. The ferry landing was at the foot of School St. where I lived. The names of the characters in the book are real. I grew up with descendants of the Averys, Lathams, Ledyards and many others. The story is told by 11 year old Billy Latham. Jordan was a slave who saved Billy from a vicious bull attack so Col. Ledyard freed Jordan as a reward. The telling of the story from Billy's viewpoint is humorous right up until the terrible attack on Fort Griswold by the British. This is a short story and well written with historical value. I highly recommend it to anyone whether they lived in that area or not. Enjoy!