In the bayou country of deepest Louisiana, in the late 1970s, a Cajun farmer is found shot dead. At the scene are one young white woman and about 18 old black men, each holding a shotgun. The sheriff is pretty sure who killed the white guy -- hardly any of the old fellows standing around could hit the side of a barn -- but his interrogations, punctuated by slaps and threats, fail to crack or resolve their conflicting and confusing stories. Every single one claims guilt, though the dead man was killed with but one shot, and they promise a riot at the courthouse if the sheriff makes an arrest. Meanwhile, they wait for the inevitable lynch mob that is sure to be organized by the family and buddies of the deceased. By the climax of the story, everyone's learned a little something, especially the beaten old black men who get a taste of their own power and courage. This 1983 Gaines novel is as stirring as the rest of his writings; it's a wonder it hasn't been filmed. | ||
Plot & Themes Tone of book? - thoughtful Time/era of story - 1960's-1970's Political/social activism Yes Plotlet: Ethnic/Regional/Religion Other aspects: Crime & Police story Yes Story of Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Ethnic/regional/gender life Yes Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Age: - 60's-90's Main Adversary Identity: - Male Age: - 40's-50's Eccentric/Smart/Dumb: Yes Eccentric: How sensitive is this character? Intelligence - below average Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 3 () United States Yes The US: - Deep South Farm/Ranch? Yes Farm/Ranch: - farm Small town? Yes Small town people: - very gullible, like Gomer Pyle - hostile, like Gomer Pyle on steroids Writing Style Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript |