In 'The Odyssey of Phillis Wheatley', historian David Waldstreicher crafts a meticulous biography that explores the tumultuous life and influential works of Phillis Wheatley, the celebrated African American poet. Captured and enslaved as a child, Wheatley's prodigious talent blossomed in colonial America where she crafted verses that challenged and critiqued the society's injustices even as she navigated her own enslaved condition. Her poetry, embraced by leaders like George Washington and scrutinized by others such as Thomas Jefferson, would play a fundamental role in shaping the discourse around race, slavery, and freedom during the era of the American Revolution. Waldstreicher's work not only pays homage to Wheatley's literary genius but also reevaluates historical narratives, deepening our appreciation of her contributions to American literature and history.