The American Queen: A Novel Based on the True Story of Appalachia's Kingdom of the Happy Land

by Vanessa Miller

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Based on the true historical figure Louella Montgomery, this novelized account is ripe with a compelling plot leading to an uplifting takeaway. Montgomery is a remarkable personality too often forgotten, and Vanessa Miller brings her to vibrant life.

AS SEEN ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA: GMA 15 New Books to Read!

2024 American Fiction Award WINNER for African American Fiction AND Historical Fiction

"Miller brings to enthralling life a hidden gem in American history." --Publishers Weekly

There is only one known queen who truly ruled a kingdom on American soil.

Transformative and breathtakingly honest, The American Queen is based on actual events that occurred between 1865 - 1889 and shares the unsung history of a Black woman who built a kingdom in Appalachia as a refuge for the courageous people who dared to dream of a different way of life.

Over the twenty-four years she was enslaved on the Montgomery Plantation, Louella learned to feel one thing: hate. Hate for the man who sold her mother. Hate for the overseer who left her daddy to hang from a noose. Hate so powerful there's no room in her heart for love, not even for the honorable Reverend William, whom she likes and respects enough to marry.

But when William finally listens to Louella's pleas and leads the formerly enslaved people off the plantation, Louella begins to replace her hate with hope. Hope that they will find a place where they can live free from fear. Hope that despite her many unanswered prayers, she can learn to trust for new miracles.

Soon, William and Louella become the appointed king and queen of their self-proclaimed Kingdom of the Happy Land. And though they are still surrounded by opposition, they continue to share a message of joy and goodness--and fight for the freedom and dignity of all.

The American Queen weaves together themes of love, hate, hope, trust, and resilience in the face of great turmoil. With every turn of the page, you will be transported to a pivotal period in American history, where oppressed people become extraordinary heroes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780840708885
Publisher:	Nelson, Thomas, Inc.
Publication date:	01/30/2024
Sold by:	HarperCollins Publishing
Format:	eBook
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	28,054
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Vanessa Miller is a bestselling author, with several books appearing on ESSENCE Magazine's Bestseller List. She has also been a Black Expressions Book Club alternate pick and #1 on BCNN/BCBC Bestseller List. Most of Vanessa's published novels depict characters who are lost and in need of redemption. The books have received countless favorable reviews: "Heartwarming, drama-packed and tender in just the right places" (Romantic Times book review) and "Recommended for readers of redemption stories" (Library Journal). Visit her online at vanessamiller.com; X: @Vanessamiller01; Instagram: @authorvanessamiller; Facebook: @Vanessamiller01.

Editorial Reviews

10/23/2023

Miller (The Light on Halsey Street) captivates with a propulsive historical based on the true story of a group of formerly enslaved people who founded a utopian society in the Appalachian mountains in the 1860s. Louella has been enslaved on the Montgomery plantation in Mississippi for “all her twenty-four years” when the end of the Civil War brings freedom and shattering tragedy all at once. Devastated and adrift after her father is lynched, Louella hesitantly agrees to marry the much-older Reverend William Montgomery, who wants to stay on the plantation and work for its owner—a plan that becomes intolerable when their pay dries up. Louella insists they leave the plantation and build the Kingdom of Happy Land she’s envisioned in her dreams, a place “free from fear” for “her and for people who looked like her.” The couple and other formerly enslaved people migrate to the border between South and North Carolina, where they purchase land. As Louella’s heart begins to soften towards her husband, she distinguishes herself as a powerful influence over the community and the two become king and queen of Happy Land. Despite instances of somewhat wooden language (“Would the air of freedom be different, or would it be as stale and unrelenting as slavery air?”), readers will be won over by Louella’s gumption, optimism, and tenacity. Miller brings to enthralling life a hidden gem in American history. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

'Regal, self-possessed with inner strength and dignity—that's the portrayal of Luella Bobo Montgomery in Vanessa Miller's The American Queen. Miller crafts a stellar image of resilience, giving life to a little-known story of American royalty. There's something special, soul-stirring to read of a woman, a wife, a queen building a space with her husband and found family that makes a community's hope of freedom come true. Everyone should read The American Queen and be inspired.'

award-winning author of Island Queen and Queen of Vanessa Riley

'The American Queen by Vanessa Miller is a rich, multilayered saga of a little-known true story that completely captivated me with one of the strongest and most compelling protagonists I've ever read. The dreams of Louella Montgomery were strong enough to infuse an entire community and carry them on the wings of hope off the plantation. I had to blink several times to come back to the present after finishing the last page of this wonderful novel. Everyone should read this book!'

USA TODAY bestselling author Colleen Coble

'The American Queen brings to light another hidden triumph in Black American history. Queen Louella is frankly a woman that everyone should know. Filled with bravery and cultural beauty, this marvel of a novel transported me while educating me on the sheer determination of an emancipated community to not only survive but to also thrive.'—Sadeqa Johnson, New York Times bestselling author of The House of Eve

'The American Queen is beautifully told, a story rife with struggle, intrigue, and the indomitable spirit of a woman strong enough to carry the weight of a community, bold enough to dream the impossible, and determined enough to fashion dreams into reality. Louella Montgomery is a woman for the ages. I loved traveling alongside her and meeting the people of The Happy Land.'—Lisa Wingate #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Lost Friends

From the Publisher

'Being a hero during the Civil War era took on lots of different forms. One woman, hero Louella, is the subject of award-winning author Vanessa Miller's latest historical novel . . . This powerful story must be told and retold.'

GMA

'This novel shines a bright light on a little-known moment in American history, one that deserves to be far more widely seen and honored. An inspiring story of resilience, determination, hope, and the human spirit, this story cries out to be remembered and restored to history. This fascinating novel will go far towards accomplishing that goal. It's an uplifting read, one that is sorely needed these days. Highly recommended.'

Historical Novel Society

'Bestselling author Vanessa Miller has penned yet another moving and illuminating novel in THE AMERICAN QUEEN . . . With gentleness and empathy, Miller examines the complex relationship between faith and adversity.'

BookPage

'Vanessa Miller's page-turner The American Queen takes readers on a winding journey through the horrors and triumphs of the post—Civil War / Reconstruction era to show how a broken formerly enslaved woman transforms into an actual queen over her people. Louella Bobo Montgomery emerges from a Mississippi plantation with a vision of a 'happy land' where her people will live together in peace and with dignity. Turning that vision into a reality, however, tests the very foundations of her faith. The American Queen is a moving, heartwarming story that reminds us that all things are possible with faith, hope, love, and forgiveness.'

author of Sisters in Arms Kaia Alderson

'Some books just feel inspired. You feel blessed for having read them. They feel like a gift. This is one of those books. The American Queen is definitely a story everyone should know, and a year from now, I have a feeling they will. Put it at the top of your bookstagram reading list.'

New York Times bestselling author of The Many Daug Jamie Ford

'Queen Louella, the American Queen, is a character so richly drawn, she writes the story of American history. Born into slavery, robbed of her mother and family, Louella has no reason to love or be loved. However, the superb Vanessa Miller has created a new world of possibility and the story takes flight. The impossible path to forgiveness is as arduous as the road to freedom is for the enslaved. When Louella decides it's her world, one that she will make her own in emancipation, the sky opens up and rains hope. This novel is a triumph.'

bestselling author of The Good Left Undone Adriana Trigiani

'The struggles in THE AMERICAN QUEEN resonate with contemporary issues, making the story not just a journey into the past but a reflection of our present and a hopeful vision for the future.'

the author of THE THING ABOUT HOME Rhonda McKnight

'Vanessa Miller's THE AMERICAN QUEEN is a rare, untold novel showcasing a hidden gem of factual history about North Carolina's Queen Louella of the Kingdom of Happy Land—the only queen that ruled on American soil. Inspirational and unforgettable, Miller weaves a fascinating story set in rugged Appalachia in a community built by emancipated, former enslaved men and women.'

New York Times bestselling author of The Book Woma Kim Michele Richardson

Listeners will be immersed in this fictionalized retelling of actual events that occurred between 1865 and 1869. Louella spent her first 24 years enslaved on the Montgomery Plantation. After Emancipation, she is determined to create a better life for herself and her people. She and Reverend William lead a group of formerly enslaved people to a place they call "The Kingdom of the Happy Land" and create a cooperative society in which they are queen and king. Angel Pean captures Louella's passion, determination, and hope while also painting an accurate picture of the fear, hatred, and despair emanating from broader society. Pean creates meaningful distinctions among characters and brings the period to life for listeners. A captivating story about an unsung hero fighting for freedom and dignity. K.S.M. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine

MAY 2024 - AudioFile