Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, the story follows Francesca Dumas, a young quadroon living a life of luxury as the concubine of a wealthy banker in New Orleans. Her sheltered existence filled with elegance and opulence is abruptly disrupted when a bullet pierces her idyllic world, forcing her to confront the harsh realities of her circumstances and the turbulent times around her.
Set against the backdrop of America's Uncivil War, this narrative follows young adults from Apache, black, Mexican, and white backgrounds as they navigate a tumultuous period of their lives. The story blends coming-of-age elements with an epic adventure, exploring profound emotions such as hate, hope, desire, love, loss, grief, revenge, and forgiveness. Through their experiences, the characters confront the complexities of human nature and the impact of societal conflict on their personal journeys.
Set against the backdrop of 1943 North Carolina, the story follows Will as he confronts racial segregation in baseball by joining an all-white team. His romance with Dena faces opposition from her mother, and tensions escalate when the Ku Klux Klan targets him for defying societal norms. To evade their wrath, Will seeks refuge in the US Army, where he plays a crucial role in protecting the 99th Fighter Squadron, also known as the Tuskegee Airmen. The narrative explores themes of love, courage, and the fight against racial injustice.
A body in a casket burns in the Willamette River and the homeless dance in the searchlight of doom, while the cosmos turns on the true meaning of morality. Years later, in a desolate desert landscape two women meet in a café. Waitress Wanda wields a spatula and tells a laughing Bette the ribald story of how she met her deceased husband. Within minutes, a violent act leaves Bette severely brain injured, and Wanda commits to her care. Their relationship becomes the target of a perverse minister who uses them for his own aggrandizement. Evangelicals, gays, Indians and the homeless converge on the women in the protest march from Hell, agitated by Mark Twain and his final creation, No. 44. This story of struggle and devotion will hold you. You will root for the endearing characters, and the triumph of sweet, sweet good, over sanctimonious evil.