"In this intriguing book, Andrew Porwancher vividly narrates a classic story of lust, seduction, rage, murder, and law in a confusing time of rapid technological and social change. Although resonating with our own age, these themes belong to a tale of the Gilded Age, when local communities tried to defend old ways against the relentless advance of modernity." --Alan Taylor, author of The Internal Enemy: Slavery and War in Virginia, 1772-1832, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for History"An intensely personal tale that illuminates larger issues of its time and place. Andrew Porwancher deftly handles the particulars of this story of love and retribution, and he is no less able in linking his characters and their actions to the unfolding themes of life in the Gilded Age. " --H.W. Brands, author of Traitor to His Class: The Priviledged Life and Radical Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Biography"If you like murders and American history, this is the book for you. One part bodice-ripper; one part cultural history of honor; one part exploration of the 19th century criminal trial: what could be better?" --Noah Feldman, author of Scorpions: The Battles and Triumphs of FDR's Great Supreme Court Justices, winner of the Silver Gavel Award"The author has a clear, lucid writing style and sufficiently explains terms necessary to understanding the period.

[Porwancher] does a great job of explaining terms, in providing good examples, and the material is presented in an engaging style." --Stephen D. Engel, Florida Atlantic University"[Porwancher] has done well here to find a seemingly small moment in the Nutt-Dukes affair and tease it out to broader significance. This is a new story for us, and told well." --Dr. Jeffrey A. Johnson, Providence College.