
In the rolling hills of early‑20th‑century Kentucky, a bitter dispute over a newly imposed toll‑gate tax ignites a fierce resistance among the tobacco‑growing families. The community’s frustration coalesces into the Night Riders, a secretive band that roams the countryside under cover of darkness, determined to protect their livelihoods and challenge the authorities. The narrative paints a vivid picture of the era’s hardships, from humble kitchen tables strewn with wildflowers to the looming presence of the powerful local squire.
At the heart of the story is a young woman named Sally, whose sharp wit and restless spirit drive her to defy both tradition and danger. As she navigates the tense atmosphere of protest, love and loyalty surface in unexpected ways, pulling her into a web of intrigue and daring escapades. Listeners will be drawn into the clash of personal desire and collective rebellion, feeling the pulse of a community on the brink of change.
Full title
The Night Riders A Thrilling Story of Love, Hate and Adventure, Graphically Depicting the Tobacco Uprising in Kentucky
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (280K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Garcia, Moti Ben-Ari and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Kentuckiana Digital Library)
Release date
2011-06-21
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

b. 1855
Best known for The Night Riders, this early-20th-century American novelist turned Kentucky’s tobacco conflict into a fast-moving story of love, violence, and unrest. His work blends popular fiction with the atmosphere of a very real regional upheaval.
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