
audiobook
by Sutton E. (Sutton Elbert) Griggs
TO THE PUBLIC.
IMPERIUM IN IMPERIO. - BERL TROUT'S DYING DECLARATION.
IMPERIUM IN IMPERIO - CHAPTER I - A SMALL BEGINNING.
CHAPTER II. - THE SCHOOL.
CHAPTER III. - THE PARSON'S ADVICE.
CHAPTER IV. - THE TURNING OF A WORM.
"BELTON PIEDMONT. BERNARD BELGRAVE."
CHAPTER V. - BELTON FINDS A FRIEND.
CHAPTER VI. - A YOUNG REBEL.
CHAPTER VII. - A SERMON, A SOCK AND A FIGHT.
A dying confession anchors this powerful novel, as Berl Trout, a former secretary of a clandestine organization dedicated to the advancement of his people, faces execution for betraying a sacred trust. His stark, self‑contradictory proclamation—both traitor and patriot—lays bare the agonizing choices confronting those who seek to uplift a marginalized community while navigating a hostile society. The narrator, a close confidant, curates Trout’s last words, promising to preserve the truth for future generations.
Through vivid, almost prophetic language, the story immerses listeners in a world of secret societies, moral dilemmas, and the urgent quest for racial justice at the turn of the twentieth century. It blends political intrigue with heartfelt social commentary, urging reflection on loyalty, sacrifice, and the broader human family. The first act sets a tense, emotionally charged stage, inviting listeners to contemplate the cost of idealism and the complexities of forging a new destiny.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (299K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2005-03-24
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1872–1933
A pioneering Black novelist, Baptist minister, and activist, he is best remembered for Imperium in Imperio, a bold 1899 novel that imagined Black political power in the United States. His writing joined fiction, faith, and public debate in ways that still feel striking today.
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