The Lead of Honour

"The Lead of Honour" by Norval Richardson follows a determined young man named Sargent Everett as he travels from New England to Natchez, Mississippi, seeking a fresh start and a career in law. The story explores the themes of ambition, youth, and adapting to a challenging new environment, as Everett faces obstacles and strives to overcome his physical disability. The novel starts with Everett on a riverboat, revealing his thoughtful character and his deep desire to prove himself, in conversation with a Captain, as they journey towards the risks and hardships of Natchez, Everett reflects on his past and his determination to rise above the limitations of his affliction, setting a tone of hope and apprehension within a character-driven narrative set in the rugged South before the Civil War.