Red Clay

Reviews

“This impressive debut novel is a splendid addition to a relatively new genre of historical fiction that focuses on the lives of Black men and women—and their interactions with their white oppressors—during the Civil War and Reconstruction. Vividly written, Red Clay features well-researched historical details, fully drawn characters, and surprising plot twists. Bravo!”

“With an unforgettable cast of characters and close attention to detail, Charles B. Fancher has written a gripping novel that offers a nuanced picture of a society struggling to move forward and backward simultaneously, bringing fresh perspective to social, economic, and political forces unleashed by the end of the Civil War and the decades that followed. In addition, it’s a darn good read that belongs in every school library.”

“At once a riveting family story and a heartbreaking tour of American history, Red Clay overflows with pain, hope, and grace. It is that rare novel that shows us who we are by reminding us where we have been.”

“A moving, entertaining saga of memorable characters and painful truths, Red Clay rises from America’s deepest shadows to remind us of how entangled we still are with our past.”

“I was swept away by Charles Fancher’s Red Clay, a mesmerizing, ambitious novel about the way family secrets are often braided into America’s shameful history of slavery, and the hope and resilience needed to survive its aftermath.”

“The granddaughter of a man born into slavery learns his story from a descendant of his enslavers in this immersive debut novel…Fancher imbues the narrative with a rich humanity…There’s plenty for historical fiction fans to admire.”

“Red Clay is a family history, at once deeply personal and universal in its appeal for justice, truth, and the inviolable dignity that is the birthright of every human being.”

“In Red Clay, Charles Fancher has crafted an immersive and searing portrait of Reconstruction-era Alabama that lays bare the betrayals and broken promises that haunted Black families during this period of social upheaval, and the redemptive power of friendship, love, and determination that allowed them to endure and triumph despite it all. With a deeply rooted sense of place, Red Clay traces the complex relationships of its vividly drawn cast of characters and offers powerful insight into the ways Black and white people, men and women, brothers and friends can fail each other, lift one another up, and surprise even themselves. I was hooked from the first page, and highly recommend it.”

“Keenly aware of the intersections among race, class, gender, and cultural heritage, Red Clay is notable for its diverse portrayal of Black Americans before and during Reconstruction…A story of surprising allyship, painful secrets, and momentous transformations.”

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