Focusing principally on Negro characters in rural North Carolina in the early 1900's, these thirteen stories are as affecting as they are earthy. Simple in construction, but built on complex issues, they follow several of Green's favorite themes: the white man's injustice to his black neighbor, the horror of capital punishment, the power of poverty to negate hard work and good intentions, and the stubborn dignity of human beings who refuse to be entirely crushed by circumstance. Originally published in 1976. A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.