www.tess-taylor.comTHE FORAGE HOUSE explores California-born Taylor’s connection to her ancestor, founding father Thomas Jefferson. Partly written in residence at Monticello and meticulously researched, The Forage House explores how we make stories and how histories—even painful ones—make us.

Publisher’s Weekly calls The Forage House “one of this season’s four most exciting poetry titles.”

Taylor says the book began “when DNA tests confirmed that chromosomal patterns on the descendants of Sally Hemings matched the patterns on the chromosomes of descendants of Thomas Jefferson. It was a fierce wake-up call… [to] my own connection to slavery. I felt the enormity of my ignorance.”

Students of literature, history, and culture will learn from Taylor’s creative exploration of American history.  Join us for an afternoon that breaks down the divides between study, self, and art; between personal and political; between then and now, us and them.

See attached packet for more information and for a few short excerpts of Tess Taylor’s writing. We hope to see you there!