Through a sequence of fortuitous events detailed in the introduction, noted scholar and author henry louis gates jr. Has discovered what he and others believe May be the first novel written by an african-American woman -...Through a sequence of fortuitous events detailed in the introduction, noted scholar and author henry louis gates jr. Has discovered what he and others believe May be the first novel written by an african-American woman -- a discovery made even more monumental by the fact that it was found in its original manuscript form, completely unedited. Extensive scientific testing has been completed to authenticate the manuscript and ascertain its origins, and experts agree that it was written between 1853 and 1859, by an african-American woman who had previously been enslaved.