Anne Black Gray

The Devil's Son Anne Black Gray

You think you know who they were, why they fought, why they died. You know only the black-and-white version-now experience the feud in full color. Over 100 years ago the Hatfield-McCoy feud bloodied the West Virginia-Kentucky border and threatened the lives and fortunes of Cap Hatfield and his family. Encouraged by wealthy men who used courtrooms and political power to their advantage, the feud threatened to explode into a second War Between the States. In The Devil's Son, follow the journey of Cap, son of Anderson Devil Anse; the feared patriarch of the Hatfield clan. Leading the family's efforts to survive, Devil Anse loses too many battles, and Cap must step up. Armed with intelligence and determination, Cap sets out to save his family while he wrestles with coming of age in the shadow of the Devil. The Devil s Son, a powerful novel, takes the reader on a journey alongside Cap, son of the feared Devil Anse Hatfield who raises his children illiterate and unguided in an isolated region of late nineteenth century southern West Virginia. The family earns a living at timbering, but is frequently forced to halt work to engage in deadly battles with McCoys and posses marauding from across the border in Kentucky. Wealthy and powerful, land and mineral-hungry coal and railroad interests enter the region. The lives and fortunes of Cap and his family are now simultaneously threatened by armed marauders and wealthy men adept at using courtrooms and political power to their advantage. Leading the family s efforts to survive, hampered by his illiteracy, ignorance of modern business practices and ethics, and refusal to adapt to the changing times, Devil Anse loses too many battles. The Hatfields are descending into poverty and defeat. Armed with only his intelligence, determination and the reading and writing his wife has taught him, Cap sets out to save his family, but must contest his father s will every step of the way.