Cotton - Paperback

by Darryl N. Layne (Author)

As a farmer's fields dwindle and fail, the power and money he holds so dear begin to slip away. To preserve his material legacy, he looks to a textile ball-and the hands that pick it-to solve his problems.

Amid the tumultuous times of the 1810s, Maryland farmer Aaron Anthony knew one thing for certain: his fields were failing.

Clinging to the money and power he and his wife Sara cherish so much, Aaron consults with a few of his trusted friends before taking the plunge on a new crop: cotton.

Almost immediately, he understands the necessity for more slaves. Aaron had bought many from his local dealers, but laws below the Mason-Dixon were finally catching up.

Simultaneously, Sara hopes to start a family with Aaron while he beds one of his newest purchases: a beautiful, light-skinned slave he names Harriet.

As the days turn to weeks and months, Aaron and his farm struggle against the changing times and thirst for more power and money.

Cotton is a unique take on historical fiction that begins just before the outlawing of owning slaves in Maryland and winds through the complex lives of those who live, work, and visit Aaron Anthony's farm.

Rife with history, relatable family moments, and an unyielding quest for fame and fortune, readers of Cotton will be left wondering-who is the real monster of the story, Aaron... or fortune itself?

Fans of Roots will enjoy Cotton's historical overtones and the third-person narrative that delves into the minds of the diverse cast of characters.