First published 1969
Racial tensions explode into violence in a Florida community as Ford chronicles the events surrounding a deadly riot. The story unfolds through the experiences of residents caught in the escalating conflict, revealing how quickly ordinary life can spiral into chaos. Ford draws on actual historical events to construct his narrative, placing his characters at the center of a community torn apart by hatred and fear. The novel examines how individuals respond when forced to confront the brutal realities of racial violence in their own neighborhoods. Through realistic portrayals of both black and white residents, Ford captures the human cost of America's racial divisions during the civil rights period. The story builds toward the climactic riot itself, showing how small incidents can ignite larger conflagrations of violence and retribution.
Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, african-american-historical-fiction
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-driven, social-commentary
Setting: Florida
Period: Civil Rights Era
320 pages · Hardcover · Atlantic/Little, Brown
Content warnings: racism, violence