Burnt Pot Island: A Marsh Hammock in its Natural State

by Karen Dove Barr

Catherine Williams earns her living shucking oysters in a filthy, mosquito-infested shed, like all Geechee women in Pin Point, Georgia, in 1904. Even though she graduates eighth grade and yearns to escape, none of the men whose children she bears can help her.
Prohibition becomes law, and rum-running gangs invade the deserted sea islands, bribing the sheriff and the mayor of nearby Savannah, who promise unheard-of sums of money to the impoverished Geechees to do their dirty work, and who lure Catherine’s son Willie into the business.
When the owner of the oyster cannery makes an unwanted sexual advance toward Catherine’s daughter Licia, Catherine is forced to hide Licia with her son on Skidaway Island, the epicenter of fine-liquor smuggling and manufacture of moonshine. She struggles to keep her job and home, both of which depend on pleasing her boss.
The mayor entices Licia into sex and rum-running, building her a secret house on Burnt Pot Island, where even voodoo and Christian prayer aren’t enough to keep her safe. Federal agents close in for a raid, forcing Catherine to choose between abandoning everything she has worked for and saving her children.

252 pages, Paperback

Published November 3, 2021

Reviews

[David]

An eloquent and fascinating historical novel about prohibition days on the Georgia coast. The author keeps the reader turning the pages to find out what will happen to the main character, and along the way delivers some deep insights about Geechee culture and life. Full of great historical details and written with a loving eye to the natural world on the coastal islands near Savannah. A must read for any fans of historical novels or Southern literature.

[Susan Tauster]

2.5 stars. I wanted to like this more, since I live in the area. Loved the history of so many familiar places. But the story and characters seemed too formulaic to me. DNF after 30%.