Chariot on the Mountain

By: Jack Ford

Narrated by: Allyson Johnson

Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

Two decades before the Civil War, a middle-class farmer named Samuel Maddox lies on his deathbed. Elsewhere in his Virginia home, a young woman named Kitty knows her life is about to change. She is one of the Maddox family's slaves - and Samuel's biological daughter. When Samuel's wife Mary inherits her husband's property, she will own Kitty, too, along with Kitty's three small children.

Already in her 50s and with no children of her own, Mary Maddox has struggled to accept her husband's daughter, a strong-willed, confident, educated woman who works in the house and has been treated more like family than slave. After Samuel's death, Mary decides to grant Kitty and her children their freedom and travels with them to Pennsylvania, where she will file papers declaring Kitty's emancipation. Helped on their perilous flight by Quaker families along the Underground Railroad, they finally reach the free state. But Kitty is not yet safe.

Dragged back to Virginia by a gang of slave catchers led by Samuel's own nephew, who is determined to sell her and her children, Kitty takes a defiant step: charging the younger Maddox with kidnapping and assault. The sensational trial that follows will decide the fate of Kitty and her children.

©2018 Jack Ford (P)2018 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

A Stunning American History Lesson

I was fascinated by this book. You will be too if you enjoy American history. A former slave woman sued a White man for her freedom and won! What a triumph! The ordeal of Kitty, our heroine, getting to freedom was riveting and the courtroom drama that followed was mesmerizing.

whimsical historical fiction novel

I enjoyed the story, but found some parts to be very unbelievable which made it hard to listen to at some points.

Although an intriguing & climatic story….

Writing from a slave’s perspective was an epic fail, respectfully. Just the fear alone would have never allowed a female slave to challenge the possibilities of the outcome of such a trial. ESPECIALLY with the audacity of charging a white man with the charge of assault. No way, no how. A slave would have just wanted the judge to free her & her children per the wishes of her mistress & master. Never would a slave challenge her fate with the adamancy of “ Oh btw I won’t be satisfied with my freedom unless I charge a white man with assault.” Kitty’s defiance was not realistic. Furthermore, the will of her master gave the mistress all rights, period. If for nothing else they could have been traveling as mistress & slave with no one really being the wiser. The story made Mary seem stuck on stupid and fight for the less than obvious things. As a person of color we have all read this story before…. Unrealistic.

Loved it!.

This an awesome depiction of what an enslaved person was will to do to be free. I also details what some people were willing to do in order to right the wrong of enslaving. The relationship between Kitty and Mary is heartwarming.

Was a great book

One of the best from this era that I’ve ever listened too, great story line, true of the era and such wonderful way to end that end and new way life.

Entertaining

I enjoyed every chapter. Beautifully written, the twist and turns kept me on my toes.

Chariot on the Mountain

A dry compelling story and the fact that it is based on a true story made it even better.

A twist to make you shout!

So much of the story was predictable until the end. The final twist gave me the best laugh!
The story lacked much of the southern nuisances that are expected in a story like this. It felt cleaned up to be more palatable.

Riveting

Chariot on the Mountain is well written. The story takes the reader/listener on a journey filled with suspense and awe. The outcome of the major scenes are unpredictable. Jack Ford, creatively, pulls his audience into the story. Allyson Johnson, one of my favorite narrators, puts a face and a voice to each character. The emotions and attitudes of each character can be felt. Her description of each place makes it vivid in the mind's eye. She makes it real. I was engaged from the first paragraph.

Wonderful story

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Beautifully written and the narrator had the ability to bring the characters to life.