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Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
Some
Moderate; historical murder and its legal aftermath
Language
Barely any
Mild period language
Sexual Content
Some
Moderate; the romantic entanglements at the center of the murder plot
Substance Use
Barely any
Mild; Reconstruction-era drinking
Emotional Intensity
Some
Moderate; the psychological dimensions of guilt, loyalty, and what is left unsaid
What this book is about
Sharyn McCrumb's Ballad novel retells the true story of Tom Dula (Dooley) — the North Carolina man hanged in 1868 for the murder of his lover, Laura Foster, and the woman who may have known more than she ever said. McCrumb weaves history, music, and Appalachian tradition into a compelling reconstruction of a case that became one of America's most famous murder ballads.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Historical murder case
Adult romantic entanglements
Reader Verification
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