Sperryville’s James Russell publishes third book, a Rappahannock-based novel of slave woman ‘Felicia’
James D. Russell of Sperryville, who found a new retirement career as an author after he entered his eighties, has published his third book, a novel based in Rappahannock County about a mulatto woman named Felicia.
The World War II veteran and retired postal worker, now 86 years old, burst upon the literary scene in 2004 with the publication of his first book, Beyond the Rim: From Slavery to Redemption in Rappahannock County, Virginia. This was a nonfiction account of the life of his great-grandmother Caroline Terry, who worked as a house slave on a local plantation, saw the Civil War, and lived as a free woman in Sperryville until she died in 1941.
After the success of Beyond the Rim, which has sold more than 2,500 copies, Russell turned to writing fiction closely tied to the stories he heard from his slave ancestor and to his own life experiences. His second book, The Resting Rock, was a series of stories, tales and legends of the African-American community.
The new novel centers on the life of a woman named Felicia, born a slave of a black mother and white father, who lived from 1840 to 1915. It is described as “a plantation saga of beauty, betrayal, bondage and battle,” encompassing the Civil War to World War I as seen in the lives of the slaves and their descendants.
The latest book is self-published and was edited by county residents Russ and Polly Scovill, with photographs by Ray Boc of Sperryville. The paperback book of 126 pages retails for $16.95.
Russell will hold a book-signing Saturday, March 29, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Rappahannock Historical Society on Gay Street in Washington, VA.
His fiction books, The Resting Rock and Felicia, are available directly from the author by calling (540) 987-8092. Beyond the Rim is available from the author or from the website of Blackwater Publications, P.O. Box 595, Flint Hill, VA, 22627, at a price of $14.95.
-- James P. GannonComments
Comment from GregRushford
Time: March 29, 2008, 5:32 pm
Mr. Russell has a fine talent — and a warm heart. I enjoyed his Beyond the Rim very much, and look forward to reading his two works of fiction. Thanks for bringing these new books to our attention.
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