Los Angeles Times Book Prize
1 appearances
-
Edition 24 (2003) Winner
Henry Wiencek
ヘンリー・ウィエンチェック
Henry Wiencek
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1952 （Dorchester, Massachusetts, U.S.）
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Dorchester, Massachusetts (birth/early life) → New York City (early career) → Charlottesville, Virginia (resident since 1992) → Chestertown, Maryland (2008–2009 residency as Patrick Henry Fellow)
Career
- Occupations
- Historian, Journalist, Editor, Author
- Active Years
- 1974-
- Affiliations
- Board of Trustees, Library of Virginia (appointed 2003), Patrick Henry Fellow, Washington College (fellowship program), Time-Life (editorial/writing work in New York)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston College High School | — | — | — | 1960年代後半 - 1970年頃 | United States |
| Yale University | Yale College | Russian Literature and Literary Theory (double major) | 学士 | 1970–1974 | United States |
Boston College High School
Period:
1960年代後半 - 1970年頃
Year of Graduation:
1970
Country:
United States
Valedictorian at graduation
Yale University
Yale College
/ Russian Literature and Literary Theory (double major)
Degree:
学士
Period:
1970–1974
Year of Graduation:
1974
Country:
United States
Double major in Russian Literature and Literary Theory
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | National Book Critics Circle Award (Biography) | The Hairstons: An American Family in Black and White | 伝記 | National Book Critics Circle | 受賞 |
| — | Los Angeles Times Book Award (History) | An Imperfect God: George Washington, His Slaves, and the Creation of America | 歴史 | Los Angeles Times | 受賞 |
National Book Critics Circle Award (Biography)
1999
Work:
The Hairstons: An American Family in Black and White
Category:
伝記
Organization:
National Book Critics Circle
Result:
受賞
Los Angeles Times Book Award (History)
Work:
An Imperfect God: George Washington, His Slaves, and the Creation of America
Category:
歴史
Organization:
Los Angeles Times
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Stan and Gus: Art, Ardor, and the Friendship that Built the Gilded Age
2025 Non-fiction / Biography / Cultural historyA researched non-fiction account of the friendship and artistic achievements of Stanford White and Augustus Saint-Gaudens, exploring culture and relationships of the Gilded Age.
Art historyFriendshipAmerican Gilded Age
Master of the Mountain: Thomas Jefferson and His Slaves
2012 History / BiographyA detailed study of Thomas Jefferson's life and his relationship with slavery, examining the contradictions between public achievement and the institution of slavery.
SlaveryFounding era of the United StatesPrivate lives of political leaders
The Moodys of Galveston and Their Mansion
2010 Local history / Family historyA family and architectural history of the prominent Moody family of Galveston and their mansion.
Family historyArchitectural historySouthern social history
An Imperfect God: George Washington, His Slaves, and the Creation of America
2003 HistoryAn in-depth examination of George Washington's relationships with slavery, clarifying the role and contradictions of slavery during America's founding era. The book drew wide attention and influenced Washington scholarship.
George Washington studiesSlaveryFounding-era contradictions
The Hairstons: An American Family in Black and White
1999 Family history / Social historyA family history tracing the intertwined white and black branches of the Hairston clan associated with the Cooleemee plantation in North Carolina. Winner of the 1999 National Book Critics Circle Award (Biography).
Race relationsPlantation historyFamily history
National Geographic Guide to America's Great Houses
1999 Guide / Architectural historyA National Geographic guide introducing representative historic houses of America.
ArchitectureHistoric housesPreservation
World of Lego Toys
1987 Non-fiction / HobbyA general-audience introduction to the LEGO company and its toys.
Toy historyCorporate culture
Bibliography
- Stan and Gus: Art, Ardor, and the Friendship that Built the Gilded Age
- Master of the Mountain: Thomas Jefferson and His Slaves
- The Moodys of Galveston and Their Mansion
- An Imperfect God: George Washington, His Slaves, and the Creation of America
- The Hairstons: An American Family in Black and White
- National Geographic Guide to America's Great Houses
- Virginia & the Capital Region Smithsonian Guides
- Smithsonian Guides to Historic America: Southern New England
- Old Houses
- Plantations of the Old South
- The Smithsonian Guide to Historic America - Southern New England
- World of Lego Toys
- The Lords of Japan
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Narrative non-fiction grounded in detailed source researchCombination of scholarly investigation and accessible prose for general readers
- Recurring Motifs
- Intersections of slavery and raceHistoric architecture and housesFamily histories and genealogiesPrivate lives of founding-era leaders
Legacy
Henry Wiencek is a historian whose work on slavery and founding-era American leaders has influenced both general readers and scholars. He is known for the award-winning The Hairstons and for contributions to Washington scholarship via An Imperfect God.
Trivia
- Was valedictorian at Boston College High School.
- Graduated from Yale University in 1974 with a double major in Russian Literature and Literary Theory.
- Won the 1999 National Book Critics Circle Award (Biography) for The Hairstons.
- An Imperfect God drew wide attention for its treatment of George Washington and slavery.
- Has lived in Charlottesville, Virginia since 1992.
- Married to historian Donna M. Lucey.
- Appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Library of Virginia in 2003.