By His Side: The Story of George Washington and William Lee

by Jinny Powers Berten

BY HIS SIDE, a work of historical fiction, tells the story of George Washington and his enslaved valet, William Lee. Set at Mount Vernon during the last three days of Washington's life the book explores Washington's changing views of slavery, his flashbacks to events that took place during the Revolutionary War and the part that William Lee played in those events. BY HIS SIDE also looks at these subjects through the eyes of William Lee. He remembers being bought by General Washington, being made head of the fox hunt, riding beside the General during the Revolution, carrying his spyglass, combing his hair and hearing decisions made that would affect battles. Throughout this work lives the grave concerns of the Mount Vernon enslaved are blended into the story. Included in this work is the Last Will and Testament of George Washington, full of surprises for many and concerns for others.

169 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[BookTrib.com]

Reading Berten’s work is immersive ... her writing is so convincing that readers practically smell the stench of the barn and taste the piping-hot “hoecakes,” or cornmeal pancakes.

Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2021/04/21/by-hi...

[Alex Yarbrough-Gonzalez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping this book would focus on the entire life of William Lee, but instead it focused on Washington’s death.
It was written as a story rather than a history.

[Miriam Kahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you read about the final days of George Washington? What were they like, what was the former president thinking, and how did the members of his household, free and enslaved, think of the man and their futures?

These are the many questions Jinny Powers Berten seeks to answer in this short piece of historical fiction, alternating points of view between George Washington and William Lee, his valet.

Readers may question the need for this book to be crafted as historical fiction. The author comments that the views of the enslaved souls at Mount Vernon and Washington’s other estates are silent. She’s put words, feelings, and ideas into their mouths and imbued them with emotions that were, perhaps unseen by their owners.

The writing is fluid drawing readers into the last days of Washington’s life. The comments and asides are plausible as the author attempts to shed light on the inner life of Washington’s enslaved peoples.

Written for a middle-grade and older audience, this slim volume is filled with illustrations and images of paintings, life on the estate, and staged pageantry. Both flyleaves and endsheets are illustrated with a map Washington’s estate and a list of his names of the enslaved in his various holdings.

For a different review, see the Ohioana Library Association Quarterly http://www.ohioana.org

[Susan Ankenbauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book readers hear George Washington and William Lee speaking, see their expressions, feel the anguish, revel with them in the promise of future freedom, then agonize at the thought of family separations. The structure of alternating points of view teaches about little known characters that were important to both men, and shaped the decisions they made that affect us even today. It recreates eloquently what enslaved humans had no chance to say with no audience who would hear. The book itself is beautiful. Cover and end flaps illustrate the details, objects, and settings of the stories. The photographs are soft and pertinent - the 16-sided barn! Ms. Berten's meticulously researched book can inspire and galvanize us to work today to right the wrongs of the past.

[Jen Nerone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really made me feel as though I knew Washington, as it brought the history alive in a very accessible but thorough way. You can tell that the author really did her homework! It's a quick and enjoyable read, and I came away feeling much more knowledgeable about this chapter of Washington's life. I highly recommend!

[Kaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fabulously interesting work of historical fiction! This is such an interesting story told from distinctly unique viewpoints of George Washington and William Lee at the end of Washington’s life. It is filled with well-researched fascinating details of life in the time of Washington and the Revolutionary War. This book creates opportunity for numerous discussions and a thirst to learn more.