Red Clay
Available February 4, 2025
An astounding multigenerational saga, Red Clay chronicles the interwoven lives of an enslaved Black family and their white owners as the Civil War ends and Reconstruction begins.
In 1943, when a frail old white woman shows up in Red Clay, Alabama, at the home of a Black former slave—on the morning following his funeral—his family hardly knows what to expect after she utters the words “… a lifetime ago, my family owned yours.” Adelaide Parker has a story to tell—one of ambition, betrayal, violence, and redemption—that shaped both the fate of her family and that of the late Felix H. Parker.
But there are gaps in her knowledge, and she’s come to Red Clay seeking answers from a family with whom she shares a name and a history that neither knows in full. In an epic saga that takes us from Red Clay to Paris, to the Côte d’Azur and New Orleans, human frailties are pushed to their limits as secrets are exposed and the line between good and evil becomes ever more difficult to discern. Red Clay is a tale that deftly lays bare the ugliness of slavery, the uncertainty of the final months of the Civil War, the optimism of Reconstruction, and the pain and frustration of Jim Crow.
With a vivid sense of place and a cast of memorable characters, Charles B. Fancher draws upon his own family history to weave a riveting tale of triumph over adversity, set against a backdrop of societal change and racial animus that reverberates in contemporary America. Through seasons of joy and unspeakable pain, Fancher delivers rich moments as allies become enemies, and enemies—to their great surprise—find new respect for each other.
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Praise for Red Clay
“I was swept away by Charles Fancher’s Red Clay, a mesmerizing, ambitious novel about the way family secrets are often braided into America’s shameful history of slavery, and the hope and resilience needed to survive its aftermath.”
— Jess Walter, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Cold Millions and Beautiful Ruins
“At once a riveting family story and a heartbreaking tour of American history, Red Clay overflows with pain, hope, and grace. It is that rare novel that shows us who we are by reminding us where we have been.”
— Michael O’Donnell, Author of Above the Fire
“A moving, entertaining saga of memorable characters and painful truths, Red Clay rises from America’s deepest shadows to remind us of how entangled we still are with our past.”
— Dan Fesperman, Author of Winter Work
“This impressive debut novel is a splendid addition to a relatively new genre of historical fiction that focuses on the lives of black men and women — and their interactions with their white oppressors — during the Civil War and Reconstruction. Vividly written, Red Clay features well-researched historical details, fully-drawn characters and surprising plot twists. Bravo!”
— Cynthia Tucker, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and co-author of The Southernization of America
“With an unforgettable cast of characters and close attention to detail, Charles B. Fancher has written a gripping novel that offers a nuanced picture of a society struggling to move forward and backward simultaneously, bringing fresh perspective to social, economic, and political forces unleashed by the end of the Civil War and the decades that followed. In addition, it’s a darn good read that belongs in every school library.”
— Linda Winslow, Former Executive Producer, PBS NewsHour
“Red Clay is a family history, at once deeply personal and universal in its appeal for justice, truth, and the inviolable dignity that is the birthright of every human being.”
— Bill Rivers, author of Last Summer Boys
“Charles Fancher has combined family history with historical fiction to bring us a story that is both amazing and fascinating.”
— Rodney A. Brooks, award-winning journalist and author of The Rise and Fall of the Freedman’s Savings Bank and Its Long-Lasting Impact on Black America
“The granddaughter of a man born into slavery learns his story from a descendant of his enslavers in this immersive debut novel...Fancher imbues the narrative with a rich humanity...There’s plenty for historical fiction fans to admire.”
— Publishers Weekly