The small country of Liberia in West Africa has a rich and fascinating past, a history uniquely intertwined with that of the U.S. Liberia was born in the early 19th century when a group of prominent white Americans calling themselves the American Colonization Society set about establishing a colony for free blacks and former slaves. In 1820, the first settlers arrived on the west coast of Africa. This is the tale of their struggle to build a nation in the land of their ancestors. Award-winning author Catherine Reef looks into a significant but relatively unexplored chapter in African-American history in this accessible and well-written book, which is generously illustrated with over 100 period photographs and engravings.