Confederacy of Silence
A True Tale of the New Old South
New York : Atria Books, 2003.
Format: Book
Edition: First Atria Books trade paperback edition.
Description: 438 pages ; 22 cm
In this stunning twist on the timeless tale of an outsider fascinated by a closed society, a young Jewish writer goes back to Greenwood, Mississippi, where he had his first newspaper job, and covers a murder trial that challenges his notions of both the South and himself.
When Richard Rubin, fresh out of the Ivy League, accepts a job at a daily newspaper in the old Delta town of Greenwood, Mississippi, he is thrust into a place as different from his hometown of New York as any in the country. Yet to his surprise, he is warmly welcomed by the townspeople and soon finds his first great scoop in Handy Campbell, a poor, black teen and gifted high school quarterback who goes on to win a spot on Mississippi State's team--a training ground for the NFL.
Six years later, Rubin, back in New York, learns that Handy is locked up in Greenwood, accused of capital murder. Returning south to cover the trial, Rubin follows the trail that took Handy from the football field to county jail. As the best and worst elements of Mississippi rise up to do battle over one man's fate, Rubin must confront his own unresolved feelings about the confederacy of silence that initially enabled him to thrive in Greenwood but ultimately forced him to leave it.
When Richard Rubin, fresh out of the Ivy League, accepts a job at a daily newspaper in the old Delta town of Greenwood, Mississippi, he is thrust into a place as different from his hometown of New York as any in the country. Yet to his surprise, he is warmly welcomed by the townspeople and soon finds his first great scoop in Handy Campbell, a poor, black teen and gifted high school quarterback who goes on to win a spot on Mississippi State's team--a training ground for the NFL.
Six years later, Rubin, back in New York, learns that Handy is locked up in Greenwood, accused of capital murder. Returning south to cover the trial, Rubin follows the trail that took Handy from the football field to county jail. As the best and worst elements of Mississippi rise up to do battle over one man's fate, Rubin must confront his own unresolved feelings about the confederacy of silence that initially enabled him to thrive in Greenwood but ultimately forced him to leave it.
Subjects:
Rubin, Richard.
Journalists -- United States -- Biography.
Trials (Murder) -- Mississippi -- Greenwood.
City and town life -- Southern States -- Case studies.
Greenwood (Miss.) -- Biography.
Delta (Miss. : Region) -- Biography.
Greenwood (Miss.) -- Race relations.
Southern States -- Social conditions -- 1945- -- Case studies.
Rubin, Richard.
Journalists -- United States -- Biography.
Trials (Murder) -- Mississippi -- Greenwood.
City and town life -- Southern States -- Case studies.
Greenwood (Miss.) -- Biography.
Delta (Miss. : Region) -- Biography.
Greenwood (Miss.) -- Race relations.
Southern States -- Social conditions -- 1945- -- Case studies.
ISBN:
067103667X
Availability | |||
---|---|---|---|
Call Number | Location | Shelf Location | Status |
BIOGRAPHY Rubin, Richard | Main (Downtown) | Third Level, Biography | In |
BIOGRAPHY Rubin, Richard | Main (Downtown) | Third Level, Biography | In |
Originally published in hardcover in 2002 by Atria Books.