A father’s desperate act of selling his three children into slavery initiates a multi-generational narrative that spans centuries and continents. The story follows the disparate lives of these children—Nash, Martha, and Travis—as they navigate the brutal realities of the African diaspora, from the American frontier to the Victorian era. Phillips employs a non-linear, polyphonic structure to examine how the trauma of displacement echoes through time. The narrative forces the reader to confront the physical and psychological constraints imposed by the transatlantic slave trade and the subsequent search for identity in a fractured world.

This work is widely regarded as a significant contribution to the literature of the African diaspora, noted for its formal ambition and emotional resonance. Critics frequently highlight the author's ability to weave together disparate historical threads into a cohesive meditation on loss and belonging. The fragmented structure is often praised for mirroring the experience of the diaspora itself, forcing readers to piece together the history of the characters. The novel remains a staple in academic discussions regarding postcolonial identity and the legacy of slavery in modern society.