Super Short Summary

In In the Shadow of Liberty by Kenneth C. Davis, the lives of five enslaved individuals owned by four key American Founding Fathers are detailed, revealing their unique stories and roles within historical contexts. The book highlights the experiences of Billy Lee, George Washington's valet; Ona Judge, Martha Washington's maid; Isaac Granger, an artisan at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello; Paul Jennings, a servant to James Madison; and Alfred Jackson, a caretaker at Andrew Jackson's Hermitage plantation, illustrating the contradictions between the Founding Fathers' fight for liberty and the perpetuation of slavery. Topics related to enslavement and the treatment of enslaved persons are discussed.