The Resurrection of Nat Turner, Part 2: The Testimonial

BOOK: The Resurrection of Nat Turner, Part 2: The Testimonial
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THEY WERE ALL HEROES …

Sparked by an indigo sun, Nat Turner stormed into history with a sword in one hand and a Bible in the other. Thirty years before the advent of the Civil War—in the predawn hours of August 22, 1831, commanding a small army of slaves, Nat Turner led a bloody fight for freedom that shined a national spotlight on slavery and left more than fifty whites dead.

In
The Resurrection of Nat Turner, Part 2: The Testimony,
as Harriet Beecher Stowe seeks to learn the truth of the man his people called Prophet, Nat Turner shares the faith, triumph, tragedy, and hope of his fight for liberty, brotherhood, and self-determination.

For 180 years, the truth of Nat's story has been tainted. Award-winning author Sharon Ewell Foster reinterprets history to offer a new American story of one man's struggle for freedom and the redemption of his people. Based on actual trial records, interviews with descendants, official documents, and five years of research,
The Resurrection of Nat Turner, Part 2: The Testimony
is a story of the quest for truth and the true meaning of liberty.

SHARON EWELL FOSTER
's first historical novel,
Passing by Samaria,
was the NAACP Book of the Year in 2000 and a Christy Award winner. She is the winner of the
Romantic Times
' Reviewers' Choice Award and the
Historical Novel Review
's Editors' Choice selection, and has earned a place on the
Essence
bestseller list.
The Resurrection of Nat Turner, Part 2,
is her tenth novel.

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COVER DESIGN BY BRUCE GORE • COVER IMAGE FROM DOVER PUBLICATIONS

The Resurrection of Nat Turner, Part 2: The Testimony

“Sharon Ewell Foster has … unearthed the
truth
about Nat Turner, rather than rehash and revisit the lies and distortions surrounding one of the most important people in American history. This is a liberating book, both psychologically and historically. Read it, read again, and then pass it on to someone who thinks they know who the real Nat Turner is.”

—Raymond A. Winbush, author of
Belinda's Petition

The Resurrection of Nat Turner, Part 1: The Witnesses

“Fast-paced … riveting and expertly told.”

—
Publishers Weekly

Abraham's Well

“Innovative and intriguing…. This is the rare historical novel that both entertains and educates.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“This is simply told and moving, Foster's best work since her groundbreaking first novel,
Passing by Samaria
(2000).”

—
Booklist
(starred review)


Abraham's Well
… [an] impressive, impeccably researched novel that deserves to be widely read; highly recommended.”

—
Historical Novels Review

“Sharon Ewell Foster merges little-known history with fiction to pen another amazing novel with
Abraham's Well.
… [It] is hard to put down. Definitely, one of the best reads of the year!”

—Victoria Christopher Murray, author of
Temptation
and
Truth Be Told

Passing by Samaria

“A sensitive, thoughtful look at a revolutionary time in American history. Foster's characters are unforgettable; full of life and unhesitatingly charming, they drive this powerful book.”

—Kweisi Mfume, former NAACP president and CEO

“A rhapsody in prose. For a religious novel to simmer in the African American religious tradition, yet carry a universal message is a rarity. Readers will be thankful for this rare and splendid work.”

—Dr. Barbara Reynolds, Reynolds News Service

“In this first novel, Foster's poetic telling is soft enough to capture and sharp enough to cut as she evokes the strength of faith needed to survive when all seems lost. This unique addition to the Christian fiction genre is highly recommended for all collections.”

—
Library Journal


Passing by Samaria
is a rarity in Christian fiction: it features an African American heroine in a kind of female
Black Boy
…. This is a fine first novel and most welcome.”

—
Booklist
(starred review)

Ain't No River

“Foster's ears and pen are tuned to the rhythm and pace of small-town African American life, from the barbershop to the beauty parlor, from the church to the basketball court, and her dialogue sparkles with a memorable concreteness.”

—Andy Crouch,
Christianity Today

“This book is one more piece of evidence that Christian publishers are getting serious about producing literary fiction. Foster's prose is often evocative and eloquent … a rewarding read from an author to watch.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“Foster, one of the brightest lights of evangelical fiction, turns in a nuanced, often amusing tale.”

—John Mort, starred review from American Library Association

Ain't No Mountain

“There's a reason the Christian publishing industry sat up and took notice when Sharon Ewell Foster's first book was released several
years ago: She's good, very good, and with
Ain't No Mountain
she proves that she has staying power.”

—Faithfulreader.com

“Foster wants her fiction to entertain and uplift. She achieves both goals with this sassy, funny, heartfelt tale of women looking for love and themselves in contemporary Baltimore.”

—Borders' Best of 2004/Religion & Spirituality

Passing into Light

“To me, she is one of America's best-kept secrets—but not for long! Sharon writes for those of us who want more than just words on a page, but pictures painted on the canvases of our minds. She has proven to be ‘the Picasso of the pen!'”

—Bishop T. D. Jakes

“The name Sharon Ewell Foster is fast becoming synonymous with quality African American inspirational fiction.”

—Pam Perry, Ministry Marketing Solutions

Ain't No Valley

“Foster makes ordinary lives seem exceptional through lively, lovable characters. She whisks us into drama and beautiful settings, using the Bible stories of Ruth and the prodigal son to frame the work and take readers to a deeper level of truth.”

—
Ebony

“Sharon Ewell Foster is a beautiful fresh voice in today's world of fiction. Her compelling stories draw us to a place where we somehow feel we belong, a place we want to visit again and again.”

—Karen Kingsbury, author of
One Tuesday Morning

Previous Works of Fiction by Sharon Ewell Foster

Passing by Samaria

Ain't No River

Riding Through Shadows

Passing into Light

Ain't No Mountain

Ain't No Valley

Abraham's Well

Howard Books

A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

1230 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2012 by Sharon Ewell Foster

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Howard Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

First Howard Books trade paperback edition February 2012

HOWARD and colophon are trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at
www.simonspeakers.com
.

Designed by Davina Mock-Maniscalco

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Foster, Sharon Ewell.

The resurrection of Nat Turner, part 2 : the testimony / Sharon Ewell Foster.—1st Howard Books trade paperback ed.

p. cm.

I. Title.

PS3556.O7724R474 2012

813′.54—dc23                  2011029148

ISBN 978-1-4165-7812-3 (print)

ISBN 978-1-4516-5692-3 (eBook)

Scripture quotations taken from the King James Version of the Bible. Public domain.

For Darlene, Mary, Harriet, Easter, Nancie, and all the mothers who have lost their sons. For all the sons who have lost their way. You are welcome. Come home.

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