"The Roots That Clutch" by Beth Ann Hooper


“The Roots That Clutch should be on the short list for every book club in the world.”
Fred Bannister, Texas teacher ★★★★★

“Magnificent!”
Joan Levine, New York poet and writer ★★★★★

“A compelling mix of poignancy, hopefulness, and of course, poetic justice.”
Lit Amri ★★★★★

“A great read… I wanted more.”
Rosalyn Baxandall ★★★★★

“An utterly engaging, delicious read.”
Phyllis E. Ring, writer ★★★★★

“This was a book I read, not once, but twice, as it beckoned to me.”
D.B. Moone, writer, editor, book reviewer ★★★★★

“Recommended!”
Bert Bukman, Dutch writer and journalist ★★★★★



Independent Press Award:
Winner Best Book Cover Design Non-Fiction 2024
Distinguished Favorite World Literature 2024


About the book
Poets and scholars.
Gatekeepers and rites of passage.
Family secrets and literary scandals.
Betrayal and poetic justice.

The Roots That Clutch, a hauntingly true tale, embarks on a 21-year journey alongside Jane, a budding scholar. Through her PhD research on the literary giants T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound, a shocking discovery unravels: her grandmother's hidden affair with another titan of American Modernism, William Carlos Williams. This revelation throws a shadow of doubt on Jane's own lineage, hinting at a potential biological connection to Williams.