Charlton is an enslaved person in South Carolina who learns to read about natural rights from Belle, the master’s daughter. Belle offers Charlton the words of the Declaration of Independence and sets him on an irrevocable course to understanding the unjust world of the American South, where childhood dreams lead to unthinkable cruelty. As he ages, Charlton uses his sharp mind to face the challenges of slavery. His intelligence, literacy, and knowledge of human rights make him an outsider, even among his own people, and prevent him from finding any solace in his life on the plantation. His adventure is a story of love, hatred, loss, friendships, betrayal, and an all-consuming need for revenge.
• Anaphora Literary Press published Charlton’s Ground in 2019.
• Join Charlton on his journey by purchasing a print edition or listening to his story on Audible with narrator Ivy Rose.