What is Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez about?

Happy Land is a historical fiction novel that uncovers the remarkable true story of the Kingdom of the Happy Land, a community of formerly enslaved people who established their own kingdom with a king and queen in the North Carolina mountains during the 1800s. The novel follows Nikki Lovejoy, who is summoned by her estranged grandmother Mother Rita and discovers she is the great-great-great-granddaughter of Queen Luella, learning about her family's fight to protect ancestral land across generations.

Who should read Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez?

Happy Land is ideal for readers interested in African American history, historical fiction based on true events, and stories about identity and legacy. The novel appeals to those who appreciate dual-timeline narratives, family sagas exploring generational connections, and stories about land ownership and heirs' property issues. Fans of Dolen Perkins-Valdez's previous works like Take My Hand and Wench, or readers who enjoy authors like Colson Whitehead and Yaa Gyasi, will find this book particularly compelling.

Is Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez worth reading?

Happy Land is worth reading for its unique resurrection of forgotten Black history and powerful exploration of collective identity and inheritance. The novel earned widespread critical acclaim, appearing on "Most Anticipated" lists from People, Elle, and Reader's Digest. Reviewers praise Perkins-Valdez's ability to balance historical reverence with creative storytelling, making this 2025 release both luminous and subversive. The book offers gripping narrative while addressing timely issues of land loss and historical erasure.

Who is Dolen Perkins-Valdez and what are her other books?

Dolen Perkins-Valdez is a New York Times bestselling author and Associate Professor at American University, recognized as a preeminent chronicler of American historical life. Her previous novels include Wench (2010), Balm (2015), and Take My Hand (2022), which won the 2023 NAACP Image Award and American Bar Association's Silver Gavel Award. Perkins-Valdez holds a PhD in English from George Washington University and has written introductions for classic works including Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave.

Is the Kingdom of the Happy Land a true story?

The Kingdom of the Happy Land was a real African American community established by formerly enslaved people in western North Carolina during the 1800s. Dolen Perkins-Valdez discovered this history through archival research, including a 1950s pamphlet by local historian Sadie Patton. The community members genuinely called themselves king and queen, inspired by memories of African kingdoms. While Perkins-Valdez fictionalizes the characters and specific events, the novel resurrects this authentic freedpeople's community and their mountain kingdom.

What are the main themes in Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez?

Happy Land explores identity—both personal and collective—asking who we are within our lineage and inherited history. The novel examines legacy and inheritance, questioning what gets passed down consciously and unconsciously, and what systems allow to survive or disappear. Generational memory and motherhood form crucial threads, depicting fragile connections between mothers and daughters. Land ownership, community building, historical erasure, and reclaiming what was lost emerge as central concerns throughout the dual-timeline narrative.

Who are the main characters in Happy Land?

* Nikki Lovejoy is the present-day protagonist, a nearly forty-year-old Washington DC real estate agent visiting her estranged grandmother Mother Rita after a failed marriage. * Queen Luella is Nikki's great-great-great-grandmother who ruled the Kingdom of the Happy Land in the 1800s. * Mother Rita is Nikki's grandmother who has lived on the ancestral land for decades and summons Nikki to share their family history and protect the property from legal challenges threatening their heirs' property rights.

What is the dual timeline structure in Happy Land?

Happy Land alternates between two narratives: the present-day story of Nikki Lovejoy discovering her heritage in North Carolina, and the historical timeline following Queen Luella and the founding of the Kingdom of the Happy Land in the 1800s. This parallel structure allows Dolen Perkins-Valdez to draw connections between how the family gained land and lost it in the past, and how they fight to reclaim it in the present, creating powerful resonance between historical and contemporary struggles.

해피 랜드

한 여성이 실제 존재했던 미국의 왕국에 관한 놀라운 이야기와 그곳에 얽힌 가족의 유대를 알게 되는 과정을 그린 매혹적인 소설입니다. 『내 손을 잡아줘(Take My Hand)』로 뉴욕 타임스 베스트셀러 작가이자 NAACP 이미지 어워드 수상자인 저자의 신작입니다.

돌렌 퍼킨스-발데스

4.24(10652 Reviews)

해피 랜드 개요

잊혀진 흑인 유토피아를 발굴해낸 "해피 랜드(Happy Land)"는 1873년 노스캐롤라이나에서 해방된 노예들이 어떻게 자신들만의 왕국을 건설했는지 밝혀냅니다. NAACP 이미지 어워드 수상자인 퍼킨스-발데즈(Perkins-Valdez)의 세심한 조사가 돋보이는 이 서사시는 묻습니다. 이 잃어버린 역사가 오늘날 미국의 토지 정의 투쟁을 이해하는 열쇠를 쥐고 있다면 어떨까요?

전달 방식을 선택하세요

한 권의 책, 다양한 듣기 방식.

해피 랜드의 같은 아이디어를 담았습니다. 나에게 맞는 목소리, 깊이, 속도를 고르고 언제든 바꿔 보세요.

1장

The Legacy of Freedom: A Journey Through Time

Imagine discovering that your family once ruled a kingdom-not in some distant land, but right here in America. This is the revelation at the heart of Dolen Perkins-Valdez's captivating novel "Happy Land," which weaves together past and present to tell the story of the Kingdom of the Happy Land, a real post-Civil War Black community established by formerly enslaved people in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Oprah Winfrey called it "a powerful meditation on freedom, family, and the meaning of home," while The New York Times praised its "unforgettable characters who embody the resilience of Black Americans." The novel has gained particular relevance amid growing awareness of how systemic discrimination has stripped Black Americans of their land-an estimated $326 billion in wealth lost between 1910-1997. Through the intertwined stories of Queen Luella and her modern-day descendant Nikki, Perkins-Valdez invites us to consider what it truly means to claim one's birthright.

2장

A Reluctant Homecoming

Nikki arrives at her grandmother Mother Rita's isolated home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina with mixed feelings. Despite being nearly forty, this is her first visit to her grandmother's house. Their relationship is strained-they've only met a handful of times throughout Nikki's life. Mother Rita wasn't expecting Nikki until evening and seems put out by her early arrival, though she offers leftover navy beans and cornbread. Life hasn't been kind to Nikki lately. Her daughter Shawnie is unemployed after high school graduation, her real estate career is faltering, and her savings are dwindling. She came because Mother Rita insisted, promising to tell her "everything your mama hasn't told you about our family." As Nikki observes her grandmother's home and habits, including her refusal to use a microwave, she realizes how little she knows about her own family history. The tension between them is palpable. Mother Rita persistently calls her "Veronica" despite her preference for "Nikki," highlighting the disconnect between them. When questioned directly about why she summoned Nikki and what happened between her and Nikki's mother, Mother Rita deflects, promising answers "in due time." The final split between Nikki's mother and Mother Rita happened shortly after Nikki's father died. Her mother, once a meticulous accountant, became unraveled by grief. A few months after his death, she visited unexpectedly to announce, "Your grandmother isn't in our lives anymore," explaining that Mother Rita had told her "don't ever put my finger on the phone and call her ever again," but refused to explain why. Nikki never called Mother Rita herself but kept wondering about her mother's choice of words: "our lives?"

들리는 모든 단어를 눈으로 확인하세요

해피 랜드의 각 단어가 오디오에 맞춰 실시간으로 강조되어 편하게 따라 읽을 수 있습니다.

3장

The Kingdom Revealed

Mother Rita questions Nikki about her mother Lorelle, revealing a lingering connection despite their estrangement. When Nikki mentions reading, Mother Rita proudly claims to read fifty books annually despite never attending college and offers Nikki her spare library card. Then comes the revelation that changes everything-Mother Rita introduces Nikki to local history, specifically mentioning the Kingdom of the Happy Land, a real post-slavery Black community where they currently live, ruled by Mother Rita's great-grandparents. "Your ancestors were royalty," Mother Rita tells her. "The Kingdom of the Happy Land was real, and your great-great-great-grandmother Luella Bobo was a natural-born leader from a South Carolina plantation." Nikki is skeptical but intrigued by this family history her mother never shared. When she suggests researching this history during a future visit, Mother Rita cryptically warns it will be "too late" by fall. Their conversation grows heated when Nikki presses about the feud with her mother. Mother Rita calls her mother a "Judas" but refuses to explain further, claiming the truth "starts with Luella." As Nikki explores the property, she discovers the family graveyard with its unmarked stones-nearly thirty graves with only her grandfather's properly marked. While bird-watching, she gets lost and is given a ride home by a neighbor named Al, who cryptically asks if she's helping her grandmother "pack up." Mother Rita reacts coldly to learning Nikki met "Fred Thomas's boy," calling his family snakes. At the Henderson County Public Library, Nikki researches her family history, searching for information about "Kingdom Happy Land." Bryan, Mother Rita's librarian friend, confirms that the kingdom was real, describing it as one of several "Black intentional communities" in America. He provides examples like Mound Bayou in Mississippi and Coe Ridge Colony on the Kentucky-Tennessee border and helps Nikki access historical documents about her ancestors.

4장

Luella's Journey

The story shifts back to 1850, introducing us to Luella Bobo, born on a South Carolina plantation called Lily of the Valley. Despite being forbidden from touching the books in her master's library, she was determined to teach herself to read. After emancipation, Luella joined a group of formerly enslaved people who traveled north to the Blue Ridge Mountains, where they established a community that would become the Kingdom of the Happy Land. Under the leadership of William Montgomery, the group settled on land owned by the Widow Davis, repairing her inn and working her fields in exchange for living in the old slave quarters. They began building proper houses, considering sunlight and drainage, and laying out their settlement strategically. At their entrance, they built a fence with "Privat" painted on it-a sign Luella would stop to spell out letter by letter, savoring each one. "Building walls brought us joy that only those who'd been treated as less than human could understand," Luella recalls. "Working together healed our souls in those early months." William and Luella married, and he was crowned king while she became queen. But their relationship was complicated. William embraced his position immediately, proudly wearing a frock coat with gold buttons, but he could also be cruel. When Luella complained about having to wear her crown, he struck her across the face-her first experience of violence in their relationship. Though he apologized through gentle deeds afterward, she carried the hurt silently. After two years of marriage without conceiving a child, Luella channeled her energy into establishing a school for the community's children. She secured one speller from a white schoolteacher and eventually obtained slates and additional teachers. But when she suggested building a proper schoolhouse, William cruelly reminded her she couldn't even bear him a child. One week later, William left to work in the mines, promising to return but disappearing from her life.

해피 랜드에서 더 많은 것을 얻으세요

매일 새로운 인사이트를 10만 개 이상의 레슨에서 만나보세요
단어가 강조되어 오디오와 실시간으로 동기화됩니다
내 라이브러리를 저장하고 모든 기기에서 이용하세요

5장

A Kingdom at Risk

That evening, Mother Rita reveals her true motive for bringing Nikki to Happy Land: their family's land was stolen twenty years ago, and she wants Nikki's real estate expertise to help reclaim it. In the middle of the night, Mother Rita wakes Nikki complaining of feeling unwell, and Nikki drives her to the hospital. After hours of waiting, Mother Rita is admitted and reveals she has cancer that started in her lymph nodes. Despite being told she has months to live, Mother Rita remains determined to fight for her land. Meanwhile, back in the 19th century, Luella's life takes another turn when William's brother Robert arrives at the kingdom. In William's absence, Robert is chosen as the new king, and he and Luella gradually develop feelings for each other. Robert supports Luella's ideas, including her proposal for the women to create and sell liniment made from mountain herbs. This business venture becomes successful, providing income for the community. By 1878, the kingdom had grown to over a hundred people. After five years of hard work, Robert announced they had enough money to buy land from the Widow Davis. He suggested putting half in Luella's name-a shocking proposal that filled her with pride. The Widow offered them 205 acres spanning both Carolinas for two hundred dollars. The council agreed to deed the South Carolina portion to Robert and the North Carolina portion to Luella. "That night, celebration drums echoed throughout the kingdom," Luella remembers, "especially from women delighted to see land in a woman's name."

6장

The Battle for Birthright

Nikki visits R.J. Parker, a lawyer with her own family connection to the kingdom through the Caseys. R.J. explains the devastating reality of heirs' property laws-how Black Americans lost nearly 90% of their land in the twentieth century through predatory practices when distant relatives sold shares without others' permission. She delivers the crushing news: Mother Rita's fifty acres would be worth millions today, but once sold, the land is legally gone forever. Mother Rita explains that the original property straddled North and South Carolina. Half was registered in Robert Montgomery's name in South Carolina, while the other half was in Luella's name in North Carolina. She insists this oral history, passed down through generations, is reliable even if it can't be found in libraries. Mother Rita believes Luella wouldn't have allowed their land to be taken. Determined to see the kingdom's remnants and speak with Al Thomas about stopping her grandmother's eviction, Nikki visits his home. Al takes her in his four-wheeler to see what remains of the kingdom-a two-story wooden "palace" where the king and queen lived, a clearing where they once farmed, and the remains of a chimney from the schoolhouse. Standing in the palace, Nikki feels deeply connected to her ancestors, understanding what they gained, lost, and sacrificed. When she confronts Al about the eviction, he reveals they inherited the land eight years ago but only recently decided to sell. Despite her pleas to let Mother Rita stay until her death, he refuses, claiming his brother needs the money.

들리는 모든 단어를 눈으로 확인하세요

해피 랜드의 각 단어가 오디오에 맞춰 실시간으로 강조되어 편하게 따라 읽을 수 있습니다.

7장

The Bonds of Family

In the 19th century, Luella's carefully constructed life shatters when William makes his unexpected return - appearing on her doorstep thin, white-haired, and partially blind from years of working in dangerous mining conditions. The revelation that he'd spent years laboring in treacherous silver mines specifically to earn money for her dream of building a schoolhouse - information Robert had deliberately withheld - forces her to reevaluate everything she thought she knew about both brothers. Despite the turmoil of emotions ranging from anger to pity to lingering affection, Luella makes the difficult decision to offer William shelter in their home, acknowledging both their past connection and his current vulnerability. The household's delicate balance shifts dramatically as William moves in, sharing a small room with Luella and Robert's young son Wade. The situation becomes even more complex when Luella discovers she's pregnant again, adding another layer of complexity to their already strained domestic arrangement. The physical proximity forces all of them to confront unresolved feelings and shared history that can no longer be ignored. The tension between the brothers builds steadily, manifesting in subtle power struggles and pointed silences until Robert finally confronts Luella with the question that has been haunting him: "Are you my wife or his?" This forces Luella to examine her feelings for both men. As she spends time with William, she finds herself experiencing a renewed tenderness toward her first husband - seeing him not as the young man who abandoned her, but as someone who sacrificed everything for her dreams, even if misguided in his execution. In the present day narrative, Nikki arrives at Mother Rita's house to find her mother's familiar car already in the driveway, setting the stage for a momentous family reunion. Inside, she discovers Mama and Mother Rita sitting in tense silence at the kitchen table, years of unspoken grievances hanging heavy in the air. The atmosphere shifts dramatically when Mother Rita spots Shawnie - her face lighting up as she embraces her great-granddaughter with unconditional love, bringing unexpected tears to Nikki's eyes as she witnesses four generations of Lovejoy women gathered together for the first time. However, the warmth of the reunion quickly dissolves into confrontation when Mama demands answers about Mother Rita's concealed cancer diagnosis. Their argument rapidly escalates, peeling back layers of long-buried family history. Mother Rita's accusation that Mama sold her "down the river" and stood idle while "they robbed us" of their ancestral land reveals deep-seated pain and betrayal. Mama's dismissal of the kingdom stories as "cockamamie" tales lacking concrete evidence only serves to deepen the rift, highlighting the fundamental disconnect between different generations' understanding of their family legacy and what constitutes truth versus fantasy in their shared history.

8장

Justice Delayed

In the 1890s, the peaceful existence of the mountain kingdom was shattered when Luella's son Wade faced false accusations of releasing bulls that trampled a white farmer to death. The incident marked a devastating turning point - despite their careful isolation, the racial violence and injustice plaguing the post-Reconstruction South had finally breached their sanctuary. Robert, who had been working in nearby towns, immediately returned to help, understanding the gravity of a Black man facing criminal charges in that era. Together, they sought out a lawyer named Weaver, a shrewd businessman who agreed to defend Wade, but at a steep price: the kingdom's land deed as collateral. After heated debates and anguished discussions, the kingdom council reluctantly agreed to the arrangement, with the stipulation that Robert and Luella would bear sole responsibility for raising funds to reclaim the deed within two years. The trial itself was a mere formality - a performance of justice rather than its execution. Despite Weaver's competent defense and multiple witnesses attesting to Wade's whereabouts during the incident, the all-white jury took less than two hours to return a guilty verdict. Wade received a two-year prison sentence, but the true punishment extended far beyond his imprisonment. The kingdom not only lost its cherished son but also its foundation - the land they had cultivated for nearly three decades. Weaver, revealing his true intentions, demanded their immediate evacuation to make way for white tenants, showing no regard for the community they had built. In the fall of 1894, the unthinkable happened. After twenty-eight years of freedom and self-sufficiency, the residents of the mountain kingdom were forced to abandon their haven. Luella's pain echoes through her recollections: "We lost our land and our son - everything. That night we slept restlessly, our dreams filled with memories of birdsong, purple flowers, serviceberries, and the sacred quiet of our mountain refuge." The displacement felt like a second enslavement, stripping them of the security and dignity they had fought so hard to establish. Following Wade's release, Luella and Robert made one final attempt to reclaim their heritage, visiting Weaver's office with hope in their hearts. However, Weaver's asking price proved deliberately prohibitive - a calculated move to permanently separate them from their land. On the somber ride home, Robert proposed borrowing money, but Luella's careful calculations revealed they could only afford fifty acres - just enough for the original settlement with its modest houses, life-giving stream, and sacred graveyard where their ancestors rested. In a moment of profound resilience, Luella found strength in acceptance: "Fifty acres is still more than what we came up here with," she declared, her voice steady despite the loss. "Fifty acres is enough to make a life. We hold on to it and never let it go again. We still free." Her words carried both the weight of their losses and an unshakeable determination to preserve what remained of their hard-won freedom.

해피 랜드에서 더 많은 것을 얻으세요

매일 새로운 인사이트를 10만 개 이상의 레슨에서 만나보세요
단어가 강조되어 오디오와 실시간으로 동기화됩니다
내 라이브러리를 저장하고 모든 기기에서 이용하세요

9장

A Legacy Reclaimed

On the crisp autumn morning of the court hearing, the Lovejoy women dress with careful attention to detail - Mother Rita in her finest church dress, Mama in a conservative suit, and Nikki in professional attire that feels foreign against her skin. The weight of generations rests on their shoulders as they prepare to face the judge. R.J. arrives early, her legal briefcase bulging with documents, and explains she's representing them pro bono because of her deep connection as Doris Casey's granddaughter. Her strategy centers on emphasizing Mother Rita's profound multigenerational ties to the land, hoping to convince the judge to grant an extended stay of eviction. The tension builds as Mother Rita insists on presenting her royal lineage - her direct descent from Queen Luella Montgomery - as part of their defense. Mama's objections are immediate and forceful, worried that such claims will undermine their credibility in court. Their heated exchange echoes through the house, each woman defending her position until Mother Rita, tears glistening in her eyes, retreats to her bedroom where the morning light catches the old photographs of her ancestors on the wall. In the tense quiet that follows, Mama reveals a devastating truth to Nikki: the family home she'd hoped to leverage is underwater financially. There's no equity to extract, crushing Nikki's carefully constructed plan to purchase the disputed property outright. The revelation leaves them both feeling helpless until R.J. presents an unexpected lifeline - adverse possession law, a centuries-old legal doctrine she's uncovered in her research. R.J. explains that North Carolina law recognizes "squatter's rights" under specific conditions: if someone openly occupies property for twenty years, maintains and improves it, pays taxes on it, and treats it as their own without permission from the legal owner, they can claim title. Mother Rita's continuous residence since Fred Thomas's death, her meticulous care of the garden, her payment of utilities, and her unwavering belief in her right to the land all align perfectly with these requirements. The legal proceedings stretch over eight weeks of anxious waiting, during which Mother Rita tends her garden with renewed vigor, as if each planted seed strengthens their claim to the soil. Finally, the judge delivers his ruling: Mother Rita is granted clear title to four acres, encompassing the weathered house that holds their memories, the abundant garden that has fed generations, the sacred ground of the family cemetery, and the valuable road frontage that connects them to the wider world. Later that evening, as sunset paints the sky in shades of purple and gold, Nikki finds Mother Rita on the porch. When she asks if her grandmother is satisfied with winning just four acres instead of the entire property, Mother Rita pulls her into a tight embrace. "The question is...are you happy, Nikki?" she whispers, her voice full of knowing. "You know, four acres is enough to make a life." In that moment, Nikki finally understands the truth that had eluded her - her grandmother's fierce battle was never just about the land itself, but about securing a future for her granddaughter, a place where Nikki could finally put down roots if she chose to stay.

10장

The Kingdom Endures

In the 19th century, though they lost part of the kingdom, Luella and Robert regained their homes by Christmas. Some residents returned, including Luella's friend Jola and her brother's family. Luella's daughter Sunny and her husband Vernon moved back, with Sunny now pregnant. Wade, still walking with a limp from his time in the labor camp, found joy on kingdom land despite his sad eyes. "I came to appreciate both Montgomery brothers differently now-Robert my lover, William my friend," Luella reflects. "Sometimes I'd walk the property alone, remembering the purple flowers, the morning sounds of settlement life, and the council meetings under moonlight, carrying hope that my descendants would create something even better from what we started." In the present day, the Lovejoy family welcomes eighty-five kingdom descendants to their property for a reunion. Nikki is tasked with telling the kingdom's story, beginning with Mother Rita who fought to hold onto their family land. Her grandmother made it to Christmas as she wished, then passed quietly in her sleep before the new year. Standing before their gathered family, Nikki shares their impossible-sounding but true history: how their ancestors walked up this mountain in 1873 to create a better life. She tells them about the Kingdom of the Happy Land, how Luella and her husbands were declared royalty, how they established a communal treasury and purchased two hundred acres-landowners and caretakers of their futures, who made their gathering possible. After the gathering, Mama shows Nikki a field of purple flowers called Veronica-her birth name, chosen as a signal to Mother Rita that Mama still loved her. At forty, Nikki makes a promise to herself: to read more books, plant flowers, and be the great-great-great-granddaughter of Queen Luella's dreams, walking in the footsteps left by those who stepped from their past into their future.

들리는 모든 단어를 눈으로 확인하세요

해피 랜드의 각 단어가 오디오에 맞춰 실시간으로 강조되어 편하게 따라 읽을 수 있습니다.

11장

The Power of Knowing

The Kingdom of the Happy Land represents a largely forgotten chapter of American history-one of many Black intentional communities established after emancipation. These communities weren't just places to live; they were bold experiments in self-governance, economic independence, and cultural preservation at a time when such freedoms were actively suppressed. What makes this story particularly powerful is how it connects past and present. The struggles faced by Luella and her community-securing land, establishing education, building economic independence, and protecting their families from violence-echo through generations to Mother Rita and Nikki. The novel shows how historical injustices continue to shape modern lives, while also highlighting the resilience and ingenuity that allow communities to survive and sometimes thrive despite overwhelming obstacles. Perhaps most importantly, "Happy Land" reminds us that knowing our history-especially the parts that have been erased or marginalized-can transform how we see ourselves and our possibilities. When Nikki discovers she's descended from royalty, it changes not just her understanding of the past but her vision for the future. As Bryan tells the kingdom descendants at their reunion, "There is power in knowing." In a time when discussions about reparations, land reclamation, and historical justice are increasingly prominent, this novel offers a deeply personal window into what's at stake. It's not just about property or money, but about identity, dignity, and the right to determine one's own destiny. Four acres might not seem like much, but as both Luella and Mother Rita understand, it can be "enough to make a life"-especially when that life is built on the foundation of knowing who you are and where you come from.

★★★★★

해피 랜드 완독을 축하합니다

100만 명 이상의 학습자가 사랑합니다

“23일째 매일 사용하고 있어요. 이제 제 일상의 한 부분이 되었습니다.”

jayallen

해피 랜드의 핵심 주제

black intentional communities
intergenerational family trauma
reclaiming ancestral land
post-emancipation self-governance
genealogical discovery

해피 랜드의 명언

Your ancestors were royalty.
Your grandmother isn't in our lives anymore.

해피 랜드의 등장인물

NikkiA struggling real estate agent seeking her roots
Mother RitaNikki's grandmother and keeper of family secrets
Luella BoboThe formerly enslaved queen of the Happy Land
William MontgomeryThe king and leader of the Black community
LorelleNikki's mother who is estranged from Mother Rita

저자 소개

돌렌 퍼킨스-발데즈(Dolen Perkins-Valdez)는 뉴욕 타임스 베스트셀러인 『해피 랜드(Happy Land)』의 저자이자 미국 역사의 삶을 기록하는 탁월한 연대기 작가입니다. 조지 워싱턴 대학교에서 영문학 박사 학위를 취득하고 아메리칸 대학교의 교수로 재직 중인 퍼킨스-발데즈는 철저한 역사적 연구와 생생한 스토리텔링을 통해 주류 역사에서 종종 간과되었던 아프리카계 미국인들의 서사를 조명합니다.

『해피 랜드』는 1873년 노스캐롤라이나주 서부에 전직 노예들이 세운 의도적 공동체인 '해피 랜드 왕국(Kingdom of the Happy Land)'의 놀라운 실화를 다룹니다. 이곳의 주민들은 스스로를 왕족이라 선포하고 자급자족하는 사회를 건설했습니다.

그녀의 이전 소설로는 『Wench』, 『Balm』, 그리고 2023년 NAACP 이미지 어워드 우수 문학상과 미국 변호사 협회(ABA)의 권위 있는 실버 가벨 어워드(Silver Gavel Award)를 수상한 『Take My Hand』가 있습니다. 유나이티드 스테이츠 아티스트 펠로우십(United States Artists Fellowship)에 세 차례 노미네이트되었고 펜/포크너 재단(PEN/Faulkner Foundation) 이사회의 의장을 역임한 퍼킨스-발데즈는 역사 소설 분야에서 강력한 목소리를 내는 작가로 자리매김했습니다. 그녀의 작품은 주요 출판물에 소개되었으며 여러 언어로 번역되었습니다. 특히 『Take My Hand』는 뉴스위크(Newsweek), 에센스(Essence), NBC 뉴스가 선정한 '가장 기대되는 책'으로 이름을 올렸습니다.

해피 랜드 요약 다운로드

해피 랜드 요약을 무료 PDF 또는 EPUB으로 받으세요. 인쇄하거나 오프라인에서 언제든 읽을 수 있습니다.

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Happy Land Summary and Study Guide | SuperSummary

Rooted in Resistance: Correlating Memory, Heritage, and the Pursuit of Equality in Dolen Perkins-Valdez’s Happy Land

Happy Land | Washington Independent Review of Books

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Happy Landと消された歴史：日米比にみる抑圧への抵抗

James

Percival Everett

What Kind of Paradise

Janelle Brown

Kurt Andersen

Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Paul Dolan

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LOVED BY

1,000,000+ curious minds.

4.7

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1M+ learners

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

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@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

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@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

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9장

해피 랜드

개요해피 랜드 개요

한 권의 책, 다양한 듣기 방식.

The Legacy of Freedom: A Journey Through Time

A Reluctant Homecoming

들리는 모든 단어를 눈으로 확인하세요

The Kingdom Revealed

Luella's Journey

해피 랜드에서 더 많은 것을 얻으세요

A Kingdom at Risk

The Battle for Birthright

들리는 모든 단어를 눈으로 확인하세요

The Bonds of Family

Justice Delayed

해피 랜드에서 더 많은 것을 얻으세요

A Legacy Reclaimed

The Kingdom Endures

들리는 모든 단어를 눈으로 확인하세요

The Power of Knowing

해피 랜드 완독을 축하합니다

해피 랜드의 핵심 주제

해피 랜드의 명언

해피 랜드의 등장인물

저자 소개

해피 랜드 요약 다운로드

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이 책에 대한 FAQ

What is Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez about?

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Is Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez worth reading?

Who is Dolen Perkins-Valdez and what are her other books?

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1,000,000+ curious minds.

1,000,000+ curious minds.

한 권의 책, 다양한 듣기 방식.

The Legacy of Freedom: A Journey Through Time

A Reluctant Homecoming

들리는 모든 단어를 눈으로 확인하세요

The Kingdom Revealed

Luella's Journey

해피 랜드에서 더 많은 것을 얻으세요

A Kingdom at Risk

The Battle for Birthright

들리는 모든 단어를 눈으로 확인하세요

The Bonds of Family

Justice Delayed

해피 랜드에서 더 많은 것을 얻으세요

A Legacy Reclaimed

The Kingdom Endures

들리는 모든 단어를 눈으로 확인하세요

The Power of Knowing

해피 랜드 완독을 축하합니다

다른 사용자들도 좋아한 책

더 알아보기

해피 랜드 개요