Beneath a Ruthless Sun [eBook - NC Digital Library] : A True Story of Violence, Race, and Justice Lost and Found

\*"Compelling, insightful and important, \*\*Beneath a Ruthless Sun\* exposes the corruption of racial bigotry and animus that shadows a community, a state and a nation. A fascinating examination of an injustice story all too familiar and still largely ignored, an engaging and essential read." --Bryan Stevenson, author of Just Mercy From the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning bestseller Devil in the Grove, the gripping true story of a small town with a big secret.\*\* In December 1957, the wife of a Florida citrus baron is raped in her home while her husband is away. She claims a "husky Negro" did it, and the sheriff, the infamous racist Willis McCall, does not hesitate to round up a herd of suspects. But within days, McCall turns his sights on Jesse Daniels, a gentle, mentally impaired white nineteen-year-old. Soon Jesse is railroaded up to the state hospital for the insane, and locked away without trial. But crusading journalist Mabel Norris Reese cannot stop fretting over the case and its baffling outcome. Who was protecting whom, or what? She pursues the story for years, chasing down leads, hitting dead ends, winning unlikely allies. Bit by bit, the unspeakable truths behind a conspiracy that shocked a community into silence begin to surface. Beneath a Ruthless Sun tells a powerful, page-turning story rooted in the fears that rippled through the South as integration began to take hold, sparking a surge of virulent racism that savaged the vulnerable, debased the powerful, and roils our own times still.\*\*Review“Pulitzer Prize winner King returns with a new nonfiction story for those craving a Serial-esque fix... King provides a glimpse into the past that is equal parts enlightening, frustrating, and invariably un-put-downable.” \*—Harper's Bazaar \*“A true-crime masterwork.” —Men’s Journal\* From The Author Of The Pulitzer Prize-winning Bestseller Devil In The Grove Comes A Gripping Story Of Sex, Race, Class, Corruption, And The Arc Of Justice. In December 1957, Blanche Bosanquet Knowles, The Wealthy Young Wife Of A Citrus Baron, Is Raped In Her Home While Her Husband Is Away. Journalist Mabel Norris Reese And An Inexperienced Young Lawyer Pursue The Case, Winning Unlikely Allies And Chasing Down Leads Until At Long Last They Begin To Unravel The Unspeakable Truths Behind A Racial Conspiracy That Shocked A Community Into Silence. A Small Town. A Big Secret. In December 1957, The Wife Of A Florida Citrus Baron Is Raped In Her Home While Her Husband Is Away. She Claims A 'husky Negro' Did It, And The Sheriff, The Infamous Racist Willis Mccall, Does Not Hesitate To Round Up A Herd Of Suspects. But Within Days, Mccall Turns His Sights On Jesse Daniels, A Gentle, Mentally Impaired White Nineteen-year-old. Soon Jesse Is Railroaded Up To The State Hospital For The Insane, And Locked Away Without Trial. Crusading Journalist Mabel Norris Reese Cannot Stop Fretting Over The Case And Its Baffling Outcome. Who Is Protecting Whom, Or What? She Pursues The Story For Years, Chasing Down Leads, Hitting Dead Ends, Winning Unlikely Allies. Bit By Bit, The Unspeakable Truths Behind A Conspiracy That Shocked A Community Into Silence Come To The Surface. Beneath A Ruthless Sun Tells A Powerful Page-turning Story Rooted In The Fears That Rippled Through The South As Integration Began To Take Hold, Sparking A Surge Of Virulent Racism That Savaged The Vulnerable, Debased The Powerful, And Roils Our Own Times Still.--dust Jacket. A Killing Freeze -- Real Sunshine -- Smoked Irishman -- Make Tracks -- Sensational Lies -- You Will Not Turn Us Down -- No Suitable Place -- Well-laid Plan -- So Much Race Pride -- Don't Talk To Me About Conscience, Lady -- Way Of Justice -- If It Takes All Summer -- Troubled By It -- Faith In Blanche -- Someone Who Should Write A Book -- Whether They Be White Or Black -- A Newspaper Woman -- Epilogue. Gilbert King. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 381-404) And Index. NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY NPR and THE WASHINGTON POST "Compelling, insightful and important, Beneath a Ruthless Sun exposes the corruption of racial bigotry and animus that shadows a community, a state and a nation. A fascinating examination of an injustice story all too familiar and still largely ignored, an engaging and essential read." —Bryan Stevenson, author of Just Mercy From the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning bestseller Devil in the Grove , the gripping true story of a small town with a big secret. In December 1957, the wife of a Florida citrus baron is raped in her home while her husband is away. She claims a "husky Negro" did it, and the sheriff, the infamous racist Willis McCall, does not hesitate to round up a herd of suspects. But within days, McCall turns his sights on Jesse Daniels, a gentle, mentally impaired white nineteen-year-old. Soon Jesse is railroaded up to the state hospital for the insane, and locked away without trial. But crusading journalist Mabel Norris Reese cannot stop fretting over the case and its baffling outcome. Who was protecting whom, or what? She pursues the story for years, chasing down leads, hitting dead ends, winning unlikely allies. Bit by bit, the unspeakable truths behind a conspiracy that shocked a community into silence begin to surface. Beneath a Ruthless Sun tells a powerful, page-turning story rooted in the fears that rippled through the South as integration began to take hold, sparking a surge of virulent racism that savaged the vulnerable, debased the powerful, and roils our own times still.