Enemy Fields (Paperback)
Against the backdrop of Kentucky in the 1970s—and against all odds—a black woman and a white man find a love that transcends race, class, and condemnation.
J. Marie Darden's magnificent love story is set in 1971—a time of war not just in Vietnam or the streets of Washington, but also in Bourbon County, Kentucky. When the Mandarenes, a wealthy white family, move into the deserted mansion across the field behind her house, Sister takes a job with them. She soon finds herself in the middle of a drama that will change the racial balance of her town by falling in love with Evian, the youngest son in the Mandarene family.
In haunting prose and beautiful images, Enemy Fields is a moving story full of insight into human hearts caught in the crossfire of one of the most volatile and violent periods of American history.
J. Marie Darden's magnificent love story is set in 1971—a time of war not just in Vietnam or the streets of Washington, but also in Bourbon County, Kentucky. When the Mandarenes, a wealthy white family, move into the deserted mansion across the field behind her house, Sister takes a job with them. She soon finds herself in the middle of a drama that will change the racial balance of her town by falling in love with Evian, the youngest son in the Mandarene family.
In haunting prose and beautiful images, Enemy Fields is a moving story full of insight into human hearts caught in the crossfire of one of the most volatile and violent periods of American history.
J. Marie Darden was born in Cincinnati, OH, but was raised in Maryland. She spent many summers in Kentucky. She holds a B.A in English from Morgan State University and a M.A in English Education from The Johns Hopkins University. She is the author of Enemy Fields and Finding Dignity. She is a Professor of English at the Community College of Baltimore County, in Maryland. She lives with her husband and son in Columbia, MD.