Arkansas Black

by Alexander Blevens

A haunting tale of brotherhood, betrayal, and resilience in the face of defeat.

Arkansas, 1927. When a late spring frost decimates the apple harvest, the Fitch family orchard collapses under the weight of ruin. Jesse Fitch, weary and pragmatic, prepares to leave the land behind with his wife and young son. But his identical twin, Silas-stubborn, rooted, and haunted by legacy—refuses to abandon the soil that shaped their families.
 
Before the Fitches can part ways, a sudden tragedy unearths a long-buried secret-binding the brothers even as it tears them apart. As grief deepens and loyalties fracture, Jesse and Silas find themselves on opposite sides of a battle that threatens to unravel their family's legacy. Bloodlines stretch to the breaking point, and the survival of the Fitch clan hangs in the balance.
 
Set against the fading rhythms of a Southern landscape in turmoil, Arkansas Black is a lyrical reflection on inheritance, identity, and the fragile threads that hold a family together when everything else falls apart.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical

310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 27, 2025

About the author

Alexander Blevens is an Air Force veteran and a retired orthopaedic surgeon who lives and writes in Mississippi. Originally from California, he married a “New Orleans belle” and developed a keen eye for all things Southern.

Reviews

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone from Arkansas when I see a book set here, I want to read it. I was hooked from the beginning. Silas and Jesse are twin brothers with a rocky relationship and are as different as night and day. Historical fiction isn’t a genre I normally pick up, but I was invested in how the brothers were going to save their apple orchard. Each brother had their own ideas on how to save their land and did what they thought best for their family. Overall, I enjoyed the story, and I learned something new about my home state (never knew we had successful apple orchards in the state at one time.)

[Alexander Blevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winner of the 2023 William Faulkner Literary Award.

[Brittany Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone from the Pacific Northwest and newer to Arkansas, it was fascinating to learn so much about the history of NWA and the hope that the PNW brought to its residents. Talk about my two worlds colliding!

The story itself felt very reminiscent to Steinbeck’s East of Eden…perhaps that’s just recency bias since I read that earlier this year. I love the choice to make Silas and Jesse twins; I think the story would have been so different had they had an older/younger age difference (though sometimes it felt like that). This book was rich in character development and description of the land.

Great read, would recommend to anyone wanting to learn a little more about the history of our little slice of Arkansas!

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense historical thriller/family drama within a sinister setting. Reminiscent of Steinbeck’s GRAPES OF WRATH.

Best book I’ve read this year. The saga of twin brothers and their families spiraling out of control as nefarious events and an unforgiving environment force them into soul-wrenching conflict and horrific decisions.

Highly recommended to readers who enjoy complex characters, a twisting plot, and gut-punching conflict.

[sniksnak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arkansas Black, loosely inspired by the author’s ancestral roots (from a faded family photo of twin brothers in a Bentonville fruit nursery) is a haunting historical novel of a family saga set in the Ozark hills of Northwest Arkansas during the late 1920s, amid the collapse of the region’s once-thriving apple industry - including the namesake Arkansas Black variety. The story centers on identical twin brothers whose family orchard is devastated by a late spring frost, pushing them toward bankruptcy. Jesse, pragmatic and weary, plans to abandon the failing land and start anew with his wife and young son. Silas, deeply rooted and haunted by legacy, stubbornly refuses to leave the soil that defines their identity. As the brothers face parting ways, a sudden tragedy unearths a long-buried carnal secret that binds them tighter while tearing their family apart. Set against the backdrop of Prohibition-era turmoil, economic ruin, bootleggers, bankers, and natural disasters, the novel explores themes of brotherhood, betrayal, inheritance, loyalty, identity, and resilience.
A tense, bittersweet and richly atmospheric novel that left me deeply emotional.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great novel depicting a historical area of the USA I did not know about! This was highly interesting as well as captivating. Through the lives of a family, the reader gets an insight into what land means to this family when they are about to lose it. Different personalities, different reactions lead to fundamental disagreements putting the concept of family at risk. Some secrets and tragedies don't help make decisions either.... The characters were believable and I could relate to (most of) them. A great historical novel, with a hooking storyline and a well researched background.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's refreshing to read a book which is not only a very good story, but also very well written as well. Everything is handled deftly and with restraint. The story could easily have fallen into melodrama but-refreshingly-Mr. Blevens didn't go there. I read this because I had seen that it recieved the William Faulkner Award and I think it was well deserved. If you are tired of Southern Literature that is pedantic and overwritten, this is the book for you.

[Lauri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sad story, well-written. Two brothers in Arkansas trying to make a go of growing apples on the family land that they've mortgaged to the hilt. The family dynamics are very complicated - the men are twins, with very different personalities, married to sisters. Their father lives on the land as well, but he's a drunk and doesn't play a main part in the story. When the apple crop fails, the brothers have different ideas about what they can do about things, as they are looking at the prospect of getting booted off the farm. There is bootlegging, uncertainty, and violence, and the family ultimately fractures. I would love to read a sequel to this.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review.

[Tracy Spratt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was interested in reading this book because my grandparents grew up in the hills of northwest Arkansas during the same time period that this book's story takes place. I did like the book; although, the way some characters spoke was inconsistent, going between proper speech and what I guess the author deemed a regional manner of speaking. There were some instances of descriptive paragraphs that seemed out of place. Overall, this is a quick read with a straight forward story, that certainly has regional appeal.

[Thomas Herchline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the previous book by this author (Bycatch), so I was anxious to see what Arkansas Black was all about. It is about a family back in the 1920's struggling to grow Arkansas Black apples. The story brings the time period, and the struggles, to life. The tension between the family members and between neighbors seems real. In addition to the story itself, I enjoyed the author's notes at the end talking about the history of the apple as well as diseases affecting apple trees.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good

It is a very accurate historical novel that reminds me of a Greek tragedy or John Steinbeck’s Grapes of wrath. Very sad but well worth reading.

[Victor Hess]

Captivating sibling rivalry page turner

This is a well written tragedy involving brothers who Mary sisters. Greed, alcohol, and envy merge with the early 20th century apple industry in Arkansas. Hopefully, Blevins has another tale for his readers soon.

[Linda Demaree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't really know how to rate this one. Very good character creation as you really feel as if you know the people in the story, however, the fact that only two of them, maybe a couple more, are likeable makes for a disturbing read. This was a sad story depicting a time and region in Arkansas history that is reminiscent of so many challenging times throughout our history as a nation. It was very good historical fiction but left me wondering how things turned out for this family later. Is there to be a sequel? I enjoyed this author's first novel, Bycatch a little more, but he is a gifted writer and I look forward to more from Alexander Blevins.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 1920s northern Arkansas, twin brothers, Jesse and Silas are desperate to save the apple orchard that has been in their family for generations. Each has different plans for the future of the farm causing serious conflict that rips their family apart.
Unfortunately, I am not as positive about this book as most of the previous reviewers. The story seemed very unrealistic to me. For instance, the author indicated that the family members had been close but they quickly fell apart and seemed unable to communicate. The dialogue was also unrealistic and alternated between “normal” and really bad grammar. I grew up in this area and know that there is a dialect but it doesn’t come and go. I’m rating the book with a generous 3 stars because of it being fairly entertaining but definitely not happy or hopeful at all. Turned out to be a dud for me. The writing just isn’t up to the standards of what I usually read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars! The rich characters give the reader a glimpse into the history of my area. As a resident of Northwest Arkansas, I find the references factual and interesting. Grab a copy and a cup of coffee and sit down to enjoy this engaging novel.

[Sherry Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arkansas Black is a historical fiction that outlines the hardships encountered by farmers of the early 1900's, particularly the apple farmers of Benton County, Arkansas. It is a poignant story of family tragedies, deceit and abandonment, with twist and turns throughout. While I eagerly awaited each new surprise, I was particularly entertained by the author's ability to paint a setting. It is a well researched and written story.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about the struggles to live off apple orchards in Bentonville.

[Tessa Pacelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the hardscrabble hills of ­north‑west Arkansas, Arkansas Black spins a family saga that starts in the early 1900s and never quite loosens its grip on the reader. I found it to be a dark and compelling page-turner. A touch of the Southen Gothic but add some John Steinbeck and some fruit!

The title nods to the region’s jet‑skinned apple and to the bruises—literal and psychic—that mark the MCs: the Fitch clan, especially estranged brothers Jesse and Silas. The Fitch family apple farm faces bankruptcy. While Jesse Fitch wants to abandon their home, his identical twin brother, Silas, chooses to stay. Before the families can split, an unexpected tragedy uncovers a secret that binds the twins together.

Characters are the heart of this novel and Blevens does fine work with them. They come across like real people. Lots of lovely period details too. Jesse lugs around a veteran’s survivor guilt, while Silas channels pure Cain‑and‑Abel resentment; their sister Hattie has a quiet strength that I loved, fighting to keep the farm—and maybe their souls—intact. The push‑pull of loyalty and betrayal feels earned,

I look forward to more work from Blevens and now I am very curious about them apples!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

[Judy Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a resident of Arkansas, specifically Northwest Arkansas, I try to read anything set in the state. The story of Silas and Jesse grip you from the beginning. Arkansas Black is a wonderful story of family drama, farming challenges, and the issues along the way. I fell in love with the characters early on and was enthralled the whole time. This book did not disappoint!

[Holly Beets · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't normally read historical fiction (usually fantasy) but I was pleasantly surprised with how fast I was drawn into this story.
At first I was taken off guard with the head hopping from character to character. However, it didn't take me long to get accustomed to the writing style.
Mr. Blevens was very descriptive in the world building and it was easy to fall into the time period.
I loved his dialog, the characters became distinctive quickly.
I had sympathy for Jesse and Marybeth right away and hated some of the others (as intended). Mr. Blevens works in flashbacks to help build layered characters and doesn't waste any narrative space.
There was a twist around 30% that I didn't see coming and it complicated the plot in such a good way.
Once I was 50% in, it was hard to put down and I flew to the end.
This book was different for me and out of my comfort zone but so worthy of the William Faulkner Literary Award.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good fead

I liked the story. It kept me interested. I did not like the profanity but there was not enough to make me stop reading.

[Kathryn Freer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arkansas Black gives a unique look into late 1920’s rural Arkansas and the families that lived and tried to make a living on bad luck, poor weather and family breakdowns. Both brothers were destined for change. One tried to save the farm with reason and hard work. The other sought out illegal means to stave off the bank. When collapse was declared the break up of family bonds was the ultimate result. Mr Blevens has a strong story telling streak which is clearly evident from the dialogue and setting of this American story. I throughly recommend reading this book.

[Merle Stiles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dissapointed

I am very upset that the book did not follow the family out west it is like the story stopped in the middle too bad I was really in to it very disappointed!!

[Robert G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Novels, like life, do not have to be joyous to be deeply enjoyed. Arkansas Black is a novel to savor.
In this, his second, novel, Blevens artfully crafts a gripping story of a family’s complicated relationships amidst their efforts to survive by dint of their once-productive apple orchard. In 1927, the seventh year of nationwide prohibition, this northwest Arkansas orchard had supported two prior generations of Fitchs since the Civil War. The third generation consisted of two brothers, Silas and Jesse. With their father well-beyond his mentorship years, his sons faced waning crop yields, associated with unfavorable weather, botanical blights, varietal vulnerabilities, and broader, nation-wide, competition. Meanwhile a foundation of agricultural life, mortgage debt meant to be managed by successful harvests and appreciating land values, loomed ever larger, overshadowing the real likelihood of financial return.
Reminiscent of the timeless contests between brothers from Cain and Abel to Steinbeck’s East of Eden, Cal and Aron, fraternal affection succumbs to conflict without a common vision for their legacies: their land and their heirs. Despite Silas’ and Jesse’s marriages to devoted sisters, Anna Lee and Marybeth, Blevens plausibly explains and richly describes flashes of their brotherly love, their devotion to their superannuated father, and his legacy. Surrounded by the author’s erudite description of 1920’s apple husbandry, he clearly details, occasionally surprisingly, the evolution of these brother’s loss of trust, irreconcilable disagreement, and ultimate dissolution.
In the beginning Marybeth and Jesse thought their most valuable possession was their land, but in the end it was their love. The time reading this novel was indeed savored.

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t aware of the apple growing orchards of North West Arkansas, nor of the devastation which was felt by the apple growing community in the early years of the twentieth century. This once thriving industry historically produced millions of tons of apples but, at the time of this story, the area is facing financial ruin due to bad harvests caused by fire blight and harsh frosts.

The Fitch family have toiled their apple orchards for many years but times are desperate and whilst Jesse can see the end is near, his twin brother Silas refuses to see reason, and with the bank about to foreclose on debts owed, Jesse sees that the only possibility is to cut their losses, pack up and leave their ancestral homeland. However, Silas has other plans which may well plunge the family into dangerous territory. The tension builds quite slowly, we get to know the main characters well and begin to understand their very different personalities. However, there is sense of impending doom as neither of the brother are quitters but when the chips are down there is only so much they can tolerate before they each reach breaking point, and with hidden family secrets threatening to surface, so the resentment between the brothers continues to fester.

Poignant and descriptive Arkansas Black brings to life the American history of ordinary folk who once toiled away, battling nature over nurture for little reward. It gives us an interesting slice of early American history, about a community of people facing real hardship, with no workable solution to ease their plight. Written with a fine eye for historical detail, Arkansas Black is well written historical fiction about a forgotten period in American history.

[Keathley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I have family in Northwest Arkansas and was looking forward to reading something set in the region. I enjoyed this story and learned a lot (had never heard about the apple industry in Arkansas before). The writing and characters were also strong. Not only were the main characters interesting, but I also appreciated the attention given to the side characters. For example, despite not being in most of the book, I found Lars really compelling.

The flashback scenes were also some of my favorites. Part of me wishes this book was longer and followed the family and the brothers throughout their entire lives, East of Eden style. I wanted to see more of the brothers' relationship in their younger years, as well as their relationships with Paps, Anna Lee, and Marybeth.

The book did feel a little repetitive in the middle when Jesse and Silas continued to go back and forth about what they were going to do with the farm. I can see the use of having this back and forth to emphasize how tough this situation and decision is for the brothers, but for me, it started to feel stagnant.

Overall, a good read. Strong setting, complex characters, and a focus on a unique period of history (I appreciated the author's note at the end with more information as well). Now I want to try and find an Arkansas Black to try!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[John Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tapestry of family conflict

Twin brothers Jesse and Silas, who are married to sisters, fight to keep their family apple orchard from failing. Set in in northwest Arkansas in 1927, with the Southern apple industry slowly collapsing, they fight foreclosure, frost, and different diseases as they search for alternate revenue streams to save a family enterprise started after the Civil War. Silas is determined to adapt, devoting some land to raising chickens while secretly working for bootleggers during the height of Prohibition. Jesse, always the more practical, sees no future in clinging to the past. He wants to abandon Arkansas and take his family to Washington state, where its burgeoning apple industry offers a new beginning.

As their desperation increases, the twins’ relationship degrades. A family with sordid secrets, a wealthy father-in-law who’s disowned his daughters, a father more interested in liquor than his sons, and lawmen on their doorstep, they fight for survival as the obstacles mount, their options for success fading away.

Blevens rich prose weaves a tapestry of personal struggle, the dying apple industry, and family conflict. Arkansas Black is a must read!

[Evelyn Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arkansas Black is an extraordinary achievement both a Southern elegy and a meditation on what binds and breaks us. Alexander Blevens writes with the patience of a poet and the precision of a historian, weaving a story that feels at once intimate and mythic.

Set in Depression-era Arkansas, the novel captures the quiet devastation of loss the frost that steals the harvest, the pride that fractures brothers, and the ghosts of a land that remembers everything. Jesse and Silas Fitch, identical twins divided by conviction, embody a timeless conflict between progress and preservation, blood and soil, truth and silence.

Blevens’ prose moves with the rhythm of memory slow, lyrical, and aching. Every image lingers: the blackened orchard under a dim sun, the breath of wind that seems to whisper secrets the living have forgotten. Arkansas Black is not just a story about family it’s a story about the land as witness, as judge, and as confessor.

This novel deserves its Faulkner Award and more. It stands alongside Cold Mountain and The Orchard Keeper a Southern classic in the making.

[Shanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arkansas Black is a searing, beautifully wrought novel that captures the rugged heart of 1920s Arkansas. Blevins writes with stark lyricism that makes every page feel alive — the failing orchards, the bitter frost, and the quiet betrayals simmering beneath family ties. The story of the twin brothers, bound by blood yet divided by pride and tragedy, unfolds with the inevitability of a storm rolling in, each chapter pulling you deeper into their world of love, loss, and fractured loyalty. It is one of those books with an ending that will linger like the taste of the last apple of the season, sharp, bittersweet, and unforgettable.

The Author’s Note at the end struck me as particularly fascinating, offering a brief but powerful glimpse into the failing apple industry in Arkansas during that era and the many challenges that caused its decline. It is a fitting final touch that deepens the story’s impact.

[S.M. Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

When identical twins Jesse and Silas are born connected by a finger, the severing of that connection seems to foretell the cleaving of more than some flesh. It foretells the cleaving of the brothers’ personalities, philosophies and, eventually, morals. One remains upright while the other, who shows signs of aberrant behavior as a child, grows into an adult who exhibits questionable decision-making abilities and hateful, destructive actions.

Many people know of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, but not the collapse of the Arkansas apple-growing industry in the same time period. If you like history, you’ll love this book’s portrayal of a farm family struggling to make ends meet during this time.

The author excels at description of the natural world with literary prose that practically cradles the earth and air as it unfolds their beauty to the reader.