K
Karl Jacoby
Karl Jacoby writes history that explores complex social dynamics. His book, The Strange Career of William Ellis, examines identity and race in American history. Jacoby's work offers readers a fresh look at historical events.
The Strange Career of William Ellis
Synopsis
This book uncovers the extraordinary life of William Ellis, a man born into slavery in Texas who reinvented himself as the wealthy Mexican entrepreneur Guillermo Eliseo in Gilded Age Manhattan. Through this audacious secret identity, Ellis navigated the rigid racial barriers of his era, gaining access to privileges denied to African Americans. His remarkable ability to manipulate racial codes allowed him to become an intimate of powerful figures, all while maintaining a complex connection to his past and black politics.