Discuss: Freeman, a novel by Leonard Pitts, (2012)

Freeman takes place in the first few months following the Confederate surrender and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Upon learning of Lee's surrender, Sam--a runaway slave who once worked for the Union Army--decides to leave his safe haven in Philadelphia and set out on foot to return to the war-torn South. What compels him on this almost-suicidal course is the desire to find his wife, the mother of his only child, whom he and their son left behind 15 years earlier on the Mississippi farm to which they all "belonged." Freeman is a love story--sweeping, generous, brutal, compassionate, patient--about the feelings people were determined to honor, despite the enormous constraints of the times. At the same time, this book addresses several themes that are still hotly debated today, some 150 years after the official end of the Civil War.

Leonard Pitts, Jr. was born and raised in Southern California and now lives in suburban Washington, DC, with his wife and children. He is a columnist for the Miami Herald and won the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for commentary.

Discussion will be facilitated by Dr. Roberta Tansman, retired professor of American History.

This is session two in a four part series on the post Civil War period. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War. In recognition of this significant period in our history, and the long reach of the war's influence on our society today, the library is offering this book and film discussion series. Registration is appreciated. Copies of the book will be available at the library one month prior to the discussion date.