Updated Full Color Edition. Volume One includes the surnames: Coon, Kauffman/Coffman, Kneissle, Lovell, Markham, Marshall, Meals, Power, and Williams. Far from being a dull list of "begats," these volumes are a lively romp through history, highlighting both the good and the not-so-good discovered about the family surnames that make up this truly American family. The author, through careful observation and analysis, debunks misconceptions found in previous research by others and exposes the fallacies circulating on the internet. She has also been able to confirm unsubstantiated stories with documentation or by the gathering of a "preponderance of evidence." Y-DNA evidence has been introduced to trace the deep ethnic origin of the surname lines. Ms. Boyett highlights her specialty in adding valuable historical context that makes the stories come alive for the reader. Written in an easy, conversational style and infused with subtle humor, these volumes are a pleasure to read, all the while providing the reader with documented, factual information. Some of the characters you will encounter in these volumes include: a real-live Pirate of the Caribbean; a family friend, President George Washington; a man accused of high treason; a knight who invaded with William the Conqueror; those who perished in a Shawnee raid in the wilderness of Virginia; a family with an ancient Y-DNA signature; a mother lost on a wagon train journey; a Civil War POW; a Lord Mayor of London; a family stripped of their citizenship and deported; a man gunned down by a deputy Sheriff; a Tudor loan shark who had men afraid to come to London; the victim of a frontier lynching; the man who "shot it out" in Arizona against an Earp brother; early settlers in the Republic of Texas; a Confederate spy; and royal connections back to Charlemagne. These stories and many more make up the sweeping saga of a truly American family. Enjoy the journey!

This author skillfully introduces you to the captivating, wide-ranging experiences of his family in this nontraditional saga. Beginning with the hilarious misadventures of his children, he provides spellbinding insights into the antics of individuals in his family. You'll learn about a Fruit Loop cannon, the tooth fairy that gave rise to a mummy, a latrine queen, a hand that would fit through a ring, a chain sparking off into the distance, and too many other adventures to cover in this short paragraph. He even brings to life an unforgettable family dog, Julio, who gave his family a lesson on how to live. In stories about himself, you'll laugh at his effort to buy a mink coat, his football fan encounter, an organ concert at Boys Town, wiggling wieners, and other extraordinary occurrences. You'll ride with him on an aerobatic jet ride, be mesmerized by unforgettable visions from his past, and be fascinated by what he did after returning from a trip to Corregidor Island in the Philippines. The recounting of his father's exposure to snipers, General Patton, buzz bombs, and more during WWII will transport you back to a time when young men shipped off to Europe, not knowing if they'd ever return to their homes. No matter your age, this book will leave you wondering what adventures await in your future because there are no limits to the possibilities.

Based off of the bestselling author's family history, this novel tells the story of Kunta Kinte, who is sold into slavery in the United States where he and his descendants live through major historic events. When Roots was first published forty years ago, the book electrified the nation: it received a Pulitzer Prize and was a #1 New York Times bestseller for 22 weeks. The celebrated miniseries that followed a year later was a coast-to-coast event-over 130 million Americans watched some or all of the broadcast. In the four decades since then, the story of the young African slave Kunta Kinte and his descendants has lost none of its power to enthrall and provoke. Now, Roots once again bursts onto the national scene, and at a time when the race conversation has never been more charged. It is a book for the legions of earlier readers to revisit and for a new generation to discover. To quote from the introduction by Michael Eric Dyson: "Alex Haley's Roots is unquestionably one of the nation's seminal texts. It affected events far beyond its pages and was a literary North Star.... Each generation must make up its own mind about how it will navigate the treacherous waters of our nation's racial sin. And each generation must overcome our social ills through greater knowledge and decisive action. Roots is a stirring reminder that we can achieve these goals only if we look history squarely in the face." The star- studded cast in this new event series includes Academy Award-winners Forest Whitaker and Anna Paquin, Laurence Fishburne, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Derek Luke, Grammy Award-winner Tip "T.I." Harris, and Mekhi Phifer. Questlove of The Roots is the executive music producer for the miniseries's stirring soundtrack.

The monumental bestseller! Alex Haley recaptures his family's history in this drama of eighteenth-century slave Kunta Kinte and his descendants.

This author skillfully introduces you to the captivating, wide-ranging experiences of his family in this nontraditional saga. Beginning with the hilarious misadventures of his children, he provides spellbinding insights into the antics of individuals in his family. You'll learn about a Fruit Loop cannon, the tooth fairy that gave rise to a mummy, a latrine queen, a hand that would fit through a ring, a chain sparking off into the distance, and too many other adventures to cover in this short paragraph. He even brings to life an unforgettable family dog, Julio, who gave his family a lesson on how to live. In stories about himself, you'll laugh at his effort to buy a mink coat, his football fan encounter, an organ concert at Boys Town, wiggling wieners, and other extraordinary occurrences. You'll ride with him on an aerobatic jet ride, be mesmerized by unforgettable visions from his past, and be fascinated by what he did after returning from a trip to Corregidor Island in the Philippines. The recounting of his father's exposure to snipers, General Patton, buzz bombs, and more during WWII will transport you back to a time when young men shipped off to Europe, not knowing if they'd ever return to their homes. No matter your age, this book will leave you wondering what adventures await in your future because there are no limits to the possibilities.

First published forty years ago, Roots electrified the nation: it received a Pulitzer Prize and was a #1 New York Times bestseller for 22 weeks. In the four decades since then, the story of the young African slave Kunta Kinte and his descendants has lost none of its power to enthrall and provoke. Roots: The Enhanced Edition features rare interviews with author Alex Haley from the NBC News Archives that took place as the Roots phenomenon unfolded over 30 years ago. There are also photos, footage, and recordings from the Haley family, all of which provide a unique understanding of Alex Haley's journey researching and writing the book. In new video interviews NBC's Tom Brokaw and David Wilson reflect on the story's lasting impact. Roots is a groundbreaking story of history and family that spanned continents and touched generations. One of the most important books and television series ever to appear, Roots galvanized the nation and created an extraordinary political, racial, social and cultural dialogue that hadn't been seen since the publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin. The book sold over one million copies in the first year, and the miniseries was watched by an astonishing 130 million people. It also won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. Roots opened up the minds of Americans of all colors and faiths to one of the darkest and most painful parts of America's past, and we continue to feel its reverberations today. Roots: The Enhanced Edition is truly definitive--adding unmatched, sweep, context and insight to this ever-relevant classic. The Enhanced Edition features: Full text of the book Video introduction and interview with David Wilson New video interview with Tom Brokaw Footage of author Alex Haley provided by the NBC News Archives and the Haley family, including Today Show interviews with Tom Brokaw, Roots-related events in the 1970s, an extended interview about the book, and more (45 minutes of video) Recordings of Alex Haley speaking about researching and writing the book (30 minutes of audio) 10 rare photos from the Haley family Essay by Alex Haley Reading Group Guide Introduction by Michael Eric Dyson Extended biography of Haley