Hanover; Or The Persecution of the Lowly / A Story of the Wilmington Massacre.

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

28180

Title

Hanover; Or The Persecution of the Lowly / A Story of the Wilmington Massacre.

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set against the backdrop of the 1898 Wilmington Massacre, this novel chronicles the violent overthrow of a biracial government in North Carolina. Through the eyes of displaced residents like Bill Sikes and Molly Pierrepont, the story explores themes of racial persecution, the loss of civic equity, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of mob violence and political tyranny.

Summary up to 500 words

Jack Thorne's *Hanover; Or The Persecution of the Lowly* serves as a harrowing historical indictment of the November 10, 1898, Wilmington Massacre. The narrative begins by depicting Wilmington, North Carolina, as a thriving, cosmopolitan metropolis where Black and white citizens enjoyed unprecedented harmony. They served together on police forces, sat on school committees, and worked side-by-side in trades. This integrated society was shattered when a new charter amendment allowed the governor to appoint aldermen, enabling a Democratic mob to seize political control and purge Black officials. The story details the immediate aftermath of this coup: the lynching of G. Z. French, the banishment of prominent Black figures like lawyers Henderson and Scott, and the forced exile of white residents who refused to submit to mob rule. Characters such as Bill Sikes, a former police officer, and Molly Pierrepont, a courageous woman, witness the chaos and decide to flee to the North. The novel follows their journey to New York, where they face the hardships of poverty and discrimination but find a measure of safety and freedom. Thorne utilizes the perspective of these refugees to critique the 'good nigger' mentality—betrayal by traitors within the Black community who aided the mob—and the broader destruction of a flourishing community. The work concludes with Molly's spiritual conversion and her final step toward redemption in a church setting. Through this tragic account, Thorne highlights the enduring trauma inflicted upon the inhabitants and the violent end of a city once noted for its equity and recognition of citizenship for all.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• History
• Fiction