Talmadge Farm
“An earnest historical novel…a thoughtful meditation on the inexorability of change, and what happens when justice results in a redistribution of success.” —Kirkus Reviews
“…a classic. This is a story of triumph and tragedy, of good and evil, and finally reconciliation. A true morality play.” —Gene Hoots, former tobacco executive and author of Going Down Tobacco Road
“A sweeping drama that follows three unforgettable families navigating the changing culture of North Carolina at a pivotal moment in history, readers have been raving that Talmadge Farm is one they cannot put down. Perfect for fans of Wiley Cash and Amor Towles.” —Carolina Country
A LOVE LETTER TO THE AMERICAN SOUTH
A STORY OF RESILIENCE, HOPE, AND FAMILY—BOTH LOST AND FOUND
It’s 1957, and tobacco is king. Wealthy landowner Gordon Talmadge enjoys the lavish lifestyle he inherited but doesn’t like getting his hands dirty; he leaves that to the two sharecroppers – one white, one Black – who farm his tobacco but have bigger dreams for their own children. While Gordon takes no interest in the lives of his tenant farmers, a brutal attack between his son and the sharecropper children sets off a chain of events that leaves no one unscathed. Over the span of a decade, Gordon struggles to hold on to his family’s legacy as the old order makes way for a New South.
A sweeping drama that follows three unforgettable families navigating the changing culture of North Carolina at a pivotal moment in history, readers have been raving that Talmadge Farm is one they cannot put down. Perfect for fans of Wiley Cash and Amor Towles.
Publisher : Story Merchant
Publication date : June 4, 2024
Language : English
Print length : 328 pages
ISBN-10 : 1970157437
ISBN-13 : 978-1970157437
Item Weight : 1.06 pounds
Dimensions : 6 x 0.82 x 9 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #18,571 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #3 in Historical Event Literature Criticism #52 in Southern Fiction #298 in Family Life Fiction (Books)
Customer Reviews: 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,423) var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
$1,588.10
sgfrye –
Excellent book….
Having lived in North Carolina my entire life and working on a tobacco farm in my youth during the late 1970’s through the 80’s this book hit home for me in many ways. Lots of great memories for me.The book is extremely well written and for me was a page turner. Characters are well formed and the plot flows like water. Highly recommend if you have any interest in history of the South or just want a great novel to read
Bev –
Engaging storyline
I wasn’t familiar with tobacco farming and learned a bit about it from this book. I even Googled tobacco barn images to understand what it meant to ‘fall from the topmost rung of a tobacco barn.’ Rung? Now I understand!I especially liked the author’s attention to detail. Well done.Chapter 34 is brilliantly written! Put-the-book-down-and-savor-the-moment fabulous. Very well done!I appreciated the various characters and their individual contributions to the storyline, with one critique–the Gordon Talmadge character. He was too bogged down by the author’s intentional character assassination. From the opening pages of the book, the adjectives used around him, his actions, his thoughts, his words, are all bad, all the time. In the first few pages, as a reader, I wanted to say, “Enough. We get it. He’s a bad guy.” I’d suggest a slower roll out, possibly over several additional pages, for a more subtle buildup, allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions about him. I think that even awful people possess a weakness or a soft side, and Gordon’s character would benefit from a crack in the façade of the absolute control and dominance he seems to wield, and it would give him more dimension. Perhaps he might have had a soft spot for his dog, Buster (giving him treats, taking him on walks, etc.) Or, instead of Gordon knocking back alcohol and becoming an even bigger jerk, maybe focus on how he might rely on a drink that would go down slowly and velvety, warming him and smoothing the rough edges of his day and calming his mood. (The kind of fuzziness and peace he experiences in chapter 34). Exposing a weakness in him would also serve to make his eventual transformation more believable.I loved Ivy! Excellent characterization of someone wise, efficient and sweet, who always put others first. She had her challenges and frustrations as well, which she met with intelligence and grace. A fine book, overall.
Sherry Matthews –
A great read
Great novel. A must read. Pick up a copy today.
Andre Celeste Jones –
A segment of history.
Good story with people you get to know. A transition time that changed many lives.The author did a great job in character building and tied them into the changes they made in history. I went through the pages like butter.
Laurie Quilligan –
An honest portrayal of a southern farm
Its often hard to read about the South in the 50’s and 60’s how black people and poor whites were treated. However the author did such a wonderful job weaving the stories of these families together that I couldn’t put the book down. I fell in love with many of the characters and their love of God and family. I was in awe of their determination to succeed.I finished and really enjoyed the time I spent on The Talmadge Farm.
Katie Sweeting – Remnant author –
Hidden gem
I came across Talmadge Farm online and borrowed it. It took several chapters for me to get the characters and the plot straight, but once I did, the book grabbed me and pulled me in. I wanted to find out what happened to Ella and Ivy, to Jake and Junior, to Mary Grace and David, to Gordon and Claire. As a fellow author who writes about both Black and White characters, I know how hard it can be to develop full, well-rounded, realistic characters that change and grow throughout the novel.What impressed me most was Daughtry’s characterization of Gordon Talmadge. He’s self-absorbed, racist, and insensitive. But he’s also loving, and funny. Daughtry did a masterful job of creating a character you want to hate, but he is not one-dimensional, and the reasons why he acts the way he does are slowly revealed. Gordon learns that you “reap what you sow,” but the reader almost, almost wants to root for him. Not quite, but almost.I look forward to more books by Leo Daughtry.
Jill –
Very Good Read
TALMADGE FARM by Leo DaughtryNarration by Justine Price was nicely done.3.5 starsA debut historical fiction novel set amid the tobacco fields in 1950s and 1960s, North Carolina. Wealthy landowner, Gordon Talmadge, lives a lavish lifestyle he inherited. He has two sharecroppers, one white and one black. These two sharecroppers have big dreams for their children. An attack by the landowners son, Junior, sets off a chain of events in this sweeping drama following three families navigating the changing times of the diverse and complex history of the south.The characters are well developed and I liked Leo Daughtry’s simple style of writing. This was a decent debut and I look forward to more from Leonard Daughtry. Touching upon family, segregation, racism, rape, misogyny, vulnerability, tobacco farming, migrants, resilience, and reconciliation.
mike –
Nice easy read
Easy readGood story lineGood book
coral –
Well written but the premis was not amongst my favourites – oerhaps it is because I am not an American
LH –
Three families intertwined – the Talmadge family who are landowners, and their two sharecropper families, the Sanders and Craddock’s .Set in mid-1950’s to mid-1960’s North Carolina, in the heartland of tobacco farming.It chronicles the dynamics of family and farming, through changing family life and times.Extremely well written, the plot is excellent, and there’s characters you’ll love and characters you’ll hate.