Burn Down Master's House

Summary

The New York Times bestselling author of The Grift takes historical fiction to a new level in a genre-defying novel, both intimate and epic, that unveils ferocious stories of revolt against chattel slavery in the 19th-century American South. These stories, largely erased or forgotten, are now unearthed and brought vividly to life.

Amid the smoke and turmoil of a divided nation, another fire stirs, one lit by the enslaved. Their rebellions are quiet at times, explosive at others, but never mere resistance: this is outright opposition. When the flames come, justice will rise with them.

Luke, quick-witted and perceptive, and Henri, a man of strong and defiant spirit, forge an unbreakable bond at a Virginia plantation called Magnolia Row. Both seek escape from unimaginable cruelty.

And sure as the fires of hell, they will leave their mark, sparking future uprisings and rebels. Like Josephine, … a young and observant girl who wields silence as her greatest weapon. She listens, watches, waits. Her vow is clear: They gonna remember us. Then there is Charity Butler, who has successfully fought for her freedom but battles against a deeply unjust system and a future abolitionist. Lastly, Nathaniel, a Black enslaver whose existence disturbs the very nature of bondage. His rule is both fragile and contradictory, a symbol of betrayal and retribution within the system of slavery.

Inspired by the true stories of the profoundly courageous men and women who dared to fight back, Burn Down Master’s House is a singular tour de force of a novel—breathtaking in scope, compassion, righteousness, and timely defiance.

“A bold and unflinching novel, Burn Down Master’s House reclaims the lost voices of American slavery and fearlessly confronts myths that whitewash history. A powerful fiction debut that demands to be read.”—Angie Thomas, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give