The last days of dogtown

In the tiny rural backwater of Dogtown, nestled on Cape Ann, the few remaining, utterly eccentric inhabitants show an enduring spirit that keeps life and love alive. Among the cast of unforgettable characters is Black Ruth, one of only, two Africans still living in the area; she dresses as a man, speaks to no one and continues her craft as the local stonemason. Mrs Stanley is blowsy, blonde and the local madam ; totally self-absorbed, she cares nothing for her young grandson, coming of age amid the sights and sounds of a rural brothel. Oliver Younger overcomes a cruel childhood to find happiness in marriage and fatherhood. At the heart of it all is Judy Rhines, a fiercely independent woman, generous and wise, but also heartbroken and lonely, whose taboo love for Cornelius, a former slave, burns at the centre of her soul. The Last Days of Dogtown is a rich, compassionate and compelling novel loosely based on the true story of a community, living through a brief, but incredibly vivid, chapter of nineteenth century American history.