First published 1976
The protagonist works for the railroad during a turbulent period in American race relations. He moves between different worlds as he travels the rail lines, encountering passengers and coworkers who force him to confront questions about identity and belonging. The job puts him in contact with people from all walks of life, each interaction revealing something about the divisions that run through American society. He struggles with his position as a Black man working in an industry that connects communities while he himself feels disconnected from both Black and white worlds. The constant motion of his work life mirrors his internal search for a place where he can belong. His encounters on the rails become a journey toward understanding his own identity in a country still grappling with the aftermath of the civil rights movement.
Genres: fiction, american-fiction, 20th-century, american, african-american
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, journey-of-self-discovery
Setting: America, United States
Period: 20th-Century
Paperback · Random House