On a July night in 1855, Henry Townsend, an African American slaveowner, dies at the age of 31. At the time of his death he owned 33 slaves and over 55 acres of land. In Manchester County, Virginia, he was not the only African American to own slaves; there are 34 free black families, and eight of those families own slaves. Although the book begins on the night of Henry’s death, the chapter moves backward and forward in time to both provide background and reveal the future of the many characters, white and black, free and enslaved. 

Henry’s wife, Caldonia, is African American and was born free. She received an education from Fern Elston, who had a small academy for free black children whose parents could afford to employ a teacher. Caldonia and Fern have remained friends, and Fern is with Caldonia at Henry’s deathbed. 

After recounting Henry’s death, the book provides background on his childhood. Henry’s father, Augustus, was born a slave and bought his own freedom at age 22 from money he earned as a carpenter since his master, William Robbins, allowed him to keep some of the profits from his sales.