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Peculiar Tribe of People
On May 12, 1960, as John F. Kennedy campaigned for the presidency, Chester Burge--slumlord, liquor runner, and the black sheep of the proud (and wealthy) Dunlap family of Macon, Georgia--lay in a hospital bed, recovering from surgery. He listened to the radio as the news reported that his wife had just been murdered. Police soon ruled out robbery as a motive, and suspicion centered upon the Ku Klux Klan, which two weeks earlier had descended upon his house to protest his renting homes in white neighborhoods to black families. Then, on June 1, Chester was charged with the murder, and when the trial finally began, the sweet Southern town of Macon witnessed a story of epic proportions--a tale of white-columned mansions, an insane asylum, real people as "Southern grotesque" as the characters of Flannery O'Connor, and a volatile mix of taboo interracial relationships and homosexuality.
- GenresHistory
264 pages, Paperback
First published October 19, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 28, 2020
Honestly, not particularly well written. Interesting story that could’ve used a better author.
September 19, 2022
It took me about a year to finish this book. I didn’t enjoy it. I should have DNFed it but I struggle with that and I wanted to feel like I could write an informed review. The best thing that I can say is that it got more interesting after Chester Burges died several pages before the end.
The problem? The book is about Chester Burges. I understand the problem, and this is the part that is a spoiler, Burges was found innocent of murdering his wife so the author could not say that he did it. Another problem? He almost certainly could not have committed the murder himself because he was in the hospital after surgery! He could have hired someone or multiple people, but it was never proven. So then after the trial and he is found innocent, why does the book continue?
Well, it continues because Chester was accused of sodomy and there is that trial. Much is made of Chester’s sex life and preferences. What I hope most modern readers will see in this is that Chester often had partners that were very young, worked for him, or might otherwise be easily manipulated. That’s horrible. He also is suspected of manipulating older people for their money and dispossessing people from their homes simply because he had the power to make money.
Chester is a horrible person. That’s it. Nothing very interesting is remotely proven. The author did amazing research and interviewed lots of people that had information about Chester’s life. However, so many people that knew more had already passed away that it left holes in the story that could have made the story more fully fleshed out and based less on speculation. Chester was eventually found innocent of murder and the sodomy charge was overturned by a higher court. There is very little of interest left to Chester’s life. Chester however, died in a house explosion that some claim was a gas leak but others say was a planned hit on Chester. I won’t go into graphic details about Chester’s body, but if you want to know it’s in the book. Like everything else about the book, there is no agreement about what happened.
A final thing that I have not forgotten from when I started this book about a year ago and now and I will be unlikely to forget when anyone mentions this book for the rest of my life is that the author tried to draw a parallel between Chester and a cousin of his that happened to be a severely overweight woman that could not loose the weight even on a diet of salads and she chose to join a carnival for the wages. Few choices would have been left open to her. The author said something like Chester might have more in common with her side of the family and less in common with the wealthy side of the family. I’m incredibly disappointed that anything like this was mentioned by an adult capable of good research.
I’m horribly disappointed in this book. Perhaps, some of this research was needed because it is all almost forgotten, but it makes for a dull tale of a manipulative man who may or may not have done a list of things. That’s all.
The problem? The book is about Chester Burges. I understand the problem, and this is the part that is a spoiler, Burges was found innocent of murdering his wife so the author could not say that he did it. Another problem? He almost certainly could not have committed the murder himself because he was in the hospital after surgery! He could have hired someone or multiple people, but it was never proven. So then after the trial and he is found innocent, why does the book continue?
Well, it continues because Chester was accused of sodomy and there is that trial. Much is made of Chester’s sex life and preferences. What I hope most modern readers will see in this is that Chester often had partners that were very young, worked for him, or might otherwise be easily manipulated. That’s horrible. He also is suspected of manipulating older people for their money and dispossessing people from their homes simply because he had the power to make money.
Chester is a horrible person. That’s it. Nothing very interesting is remotely proven. The author did amazing research and interviewed lots of people that had information about Chester’s life. However, so many people that knew more had already passed away that it left holes in the story that could have made the story more fully fleshed out and based less on speculation. Chester was eventually found innocent of murder and the sodomy charge was overturned by a higher court. There is very little of interest left to Chester’s life. Chester however, died in a house explosion that some claim was a gas leak but others say was a planned hit on Chester. I won’t go into graphic details about Chester’s body, but if you want to know it’s in the book. Like everything else about the book, there is no agreement about what happened.
A final thing that I have not forgotten from when I started this book about a year ago and now and I will be unlikely to forget when anyone mentions this book for the rest of my life is that the author tried to draw a parallel between Chester and a cousin of his that happened to be a severely overweight woman that could not loose the weight even on a diet of salads and she chose to join a carnival for the wages. Few choices would have been left open to her. The author said something like Chester might have more in common with her side of the family and less in common with the wealthy side of the family. I’m incredibly disappointed that anything like this was mentioned by an adult capable of good research.
I’m horribly disappointed in this book. Perhaps, some of this research was needed because it is all almost forgotten, but it makes for a dull tale of a manipulative man who may or may not have done a list of things. That’s all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2022
3.5 stars.
I agree with the reviewer who said that this was an interesting story which probably could have been told much better by another writer.
I live in Georgia, so when I found this book I knew I had to read it. It sounded so promising. It was gripping, and Chester was definitely unique (in the worst ways) and a fascinating character. Wow. A psychological profile would have made for some great reading. That was one really twisted, troubled, odd guy.
However, I kept having to go back when names came up to find out who they were in relation to Chester and/or everyone else. Maybe a family tree diagram or at least a list of characters in the beginning of the book would have helped.
Also, more time spent on some of the other characters and less time on the minutiae of the trial and legal details may have been more interesting.
Still, recommended.
I agree with the reviewer who said that this was an interesting story which probably could have been told much better by another writer.
I live in Georgia, so when I found this book I knew I had to read it. It sounded so promising. It was gripping, and Chester was definitely unique (in the worst ways) and a fascinating character. Wow. A psychological profile would have made for some great reading. That was one really twisted, troubled, odd guy.
However, I kept having to go back when names came up to find out who they were in relation to Chester and/or everyone else. Maybe a family tree diagram or at least a list of characters in the beginning of the book would have helped.
Also, more time spent on some of the other characters and less time on the minutiae of the trial and legal details may have been more interesting.
Still, recommended.
June 9, 2021
Peculiar doesn't even begin to describe Chester Burge or his family. Obsessive, self-aggrandizing, plotting, lying, and cheating are also good adjectives. What a scary bunch of folks. This was a decent enough story but so many things were unresolved (not the author's fault obviously, because this is true) and I would've liked a little less background on some folks. But overall, I liked it.
September 16, 2023
Peculiar? Oh yes!
Having lived in Macon, on some of the streets mentioned here, I felt I was taking a strange tour in my memories. This case was years before I lived there though! This family went through such agony and drama, yet they seemed to want things to swirl in chaos. Secrets do come out eventually. T
Having lived in Macon, on some of the streets mentioned here, I felt I was taking a strange tour in my memories. This case was years before I lived there though! This family went through such agony and drama, yet they seemed to want things to swirl in chaos. Secrets do come out eventually. T
April 25, 2024
This book was a strange combination of gossip that was mostly only interesting because I have family in Macon and historical footnotes that were dry and not always relevant to the story. The author seemed unsure of whether this was a true crime novel or historical nonfiction. I don’t think the blend of both served the story well.
November 3, 2023
Writing could have been smoother. A chronology would have been helpful since there was a lot of going back to fill in some background.
May 30, 2011
Recommended by a friend who went to college with the author. This account of the bizarre life of Macon, Georgia, resident Chester Burge proves again that life is stranger than fiction. The facts are fascinating, but the book is not that well written.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews