Red Clay

De: Charles B. Fancher

Narrado por: Dion Graham

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.

©2025 Charles B. Fancher (P)2025 Blackstone Publishing

Thoroughly Enjoyable!

Best book I've read in a long time. Fantastic character development. The author really brings the characters to life by showing us all facets of them. No one character is portrayed as all good or all bad, pure innocence or pure evil. They are all multi-faceted and doing their best to progress through the best and worst of times, as well as everything in between. We see them make good and bad choices and how the consequences of those play out. I could go on and on, but it's better to simply say I would definitely recommend reading it and experiencing this book for yourself.

This is best performance of a book I've experienced to date. I generally listen to audiobooks at 1.2x speed because the pacing to too slow for me. I listened too this one and 1x and found it perfectly paced. I will definitely seek out other books recorded by this narrator.

Loved every minute

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this outstanding historical novel. It is beautifully written and narrated.

Excellent

I so enjoyed the life of Felix Parker. It was hard to put this book down.

Great book!

I enjoyed this book more than any I’ve heard (or read) in quite some time. The characters are incredibly well drawn, and the tension so genuine, I became lost in it.

I highly recommend it.

Powerful gripping tale

I couldn't stop listening. The reader is fantastic. it would make an excellent movie. I can see how movies like Sinners are inspired.

A 5-Star Epic!

We're only two months into 2025, but this book is on my Top 5 list for the year. What an amazing story!! The narration was top tier, and instantly transported me to Red Clay, Alabama.

Relatable & Heartfelt

I loved the entire story from the beginning to the end. It felt as though I knew the characters of hundreds of years ago- their faces, emotions, stories all come to life! Well written and easy to follow this is a must read as we listen to history filled with emotion and realism. Thanks for writing this book!

Drawn in ~

I loved this story so much! Characters became dear friends and have become a part of my heart. Well done!

Good story, strong characters

I enjoyed this story a lot, gave me a somewhat different perspective of the aftermath of slavery. I disliked that one seemingly great character turned out to be not so great!
I also felt like by the end, the narrator was somewhat overemphatic, over enunciating as though having a difficult time speaking a characters name. For example, especially when having to say “Felix said” at the end of a passage, it was clipped and stressed to a fault.

Great book

Full of depth and historical content. I really enjoyed the story as it shows how when people come together they can really change the narrative and future. Also helped me to better understand the beliefs and ideology around racism and white supremacy. I would really recommend this book given the time we are living in.