Haley was a ghostwriter on his first major book: The Autobiography of Malcolm X, which was published in 1965. He spent years tracing his own family history and decided it originated with a single African man, Kunta Kinte, who was captured in Gambia and taken to America as a slave around 1767. That research led to Haley's epic book Roots, published in 1976 to wide acclaim. The next year the television miniseries Roots ran for a week on network TV and became a phenomenon. Roots won a Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. Although questions were raised about the accuracy of the history Haley described in Roots, he is still credited with inspiring interest in genealogy among African-Americans. Signed book: Roots. NY: Doubleday, 1976. Hardcover with dustjacket, 6 x 8.25, 688 pages. Boldly signed “Alex Haley” in black felt tip on the first free end page. In fine condition, with a couple of dings to the spine, a few creases to the dustjacket. R&R COA.
