The novel tells the story of Eugene Gant, a brilliant and restless young man whose passion for a greater intellectual life shapes his adolescent years in rural North Carolina. Eugene's story is a deeply personal reflection of the author's own life, filled with vivid, poetic descriptions of the North Carolina landscape. The narrative explores themes of family, ambition, and the desire for a life beyond the confines of a small town.

This novel follows the journey of Cora, a young slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia, who escapes and embarks on a journey towards freedom via the Underground Railroad. The book presents a literal version of the historical Underground Railroad, portraying it as a physical network of tunnels and tracks beneath the Southern soil. As Cora travels from state to state, she encounters different worlds and harsh realities, each one illuminating the various forms of oppression Black people faced in America. The narrative is a brutal exploration of America's history of slavery and racism, and a testament to the unyielding spirit of those who fought against it.

"The Short Fiction" is a collection of narratives that delve into the complexities of racial identity, social structure, and moral dilemmas in the post-Civil War American South. Through a series of stories, the author explores the lives of characters who navigate the blurred lines between black and white communities, often confronting the entrenched prejudices and injustices of their time. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the human condition, the stories offer a poignant and critical examination of the social fabric of an era marked by profound change and the struggle for equality.

The novel centers around the life of a woman named Kate Vaiden, who at the age of 11, loses her parents in a murder-suicide. Kate is then raised by her aunt and uncle in North Carolina. At the age of 17, she becomes pregnant and, after giving birth, abandons her son, choosing to live a life of solitude. The story is told by Kate at the age of 57, as she reflects on her life and the decisions she's made, while also contemplating the possibility of reuniting with her abandoned son.