Quote:This acclaimed novel is based on two actual incidents: In 1829, in Kentucky, a pregnant black woman was sentenced to death for helping to lead an uprising of a group of slaves headed to the market for sale. In North Carolina, in 1830, a white woman living on an isolated farm was reported to have given sanctuary to runaway slaves. In DESSA ROSE, the author asks the question "What if these two women met?" From there the story unfolds. A compelling portrait of an unlikely bond between two strong women who defy racial barriers and discover greater strength together than alone, Dessa Rose is a deeply moving story of courage, friendship, and love.