The Yellow Wife

Bookseller recommendation

“The Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johonson was a great audio book! It took me through a journey of emotions, happy, sad, anger, fear... but ultimately it left me with a strong curiosity and desire to research the factual events that inspired her writing this historical fiction story! If you're looking to start the year off with a good read, this audio book is for you!”

— Crystal • We Are LIT

Bookseller recommendation

“The Yellow Wife was a fantastically written historical fiction novel. We follow Pheby Dolores Brown, a young woman who grew up on a plantation the daughter of the healer woman and the master. I love that Johnson's inspiration for the book came from a real woman, Mary Lumpkin. Lumpkin was a light skinned Black woman married to a prolific white slave trader. The two raised their family on "the Devil's Half Acre" just three blocks from the capitol building in Richmond, VA. After encountering the site with her children, Johnson began to imagine what Mary's life was like among so much death and carnage, especially being a Black woman herself. Johnson weaves a fantastic tale that pulls at heartstrings and has you questioning white history and race. Beautifully narrated by the indomitable Robin Miles, this was a highly engrossing listen that I highly recommend to historical fiction fans.”

— Kimi • Buttonwood Books and Toys