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Jesus Tree
A Black man wrongly convicted of murder attempts to rebuild his life and bring the real killer to justice, in this historical novel based on a true story.
In the summer of 1932, Ben Jordan was wrongfully accused of killing a white pastor in Georgia. After a hasty trial, he was sentenced to a life of grueling labor on a chain gang and abuse at the hands of brutal wardens. But now, with his forty-year prison sentence completed, Ben is finally returning home.
As he struggles to understand the profound changes the world has undergone, some things remain painfully the same—including the hateful animosity towards Black people and the fact that the real murderer is still living the life of a genteel southerner. Working to rebuild his life and see justice served, Ben faces one confrontation after another—with friend, foe, and a daughter who thinks he is dead.
In this novel based on a real Depression Era murder case, author and Georgia historian Stephen Doster presents a vividly accurate depiction of Jim Crow’s long and painful legacy.
In the summer of 1932, Ben Jordan was wrongfully accused of killing a white pastor in Georgia. After a hasty trial, he was sentenced to a life of grueling labor on a chain gang and abuse at the hands of brutal wardens. But now, with his forty-year prison sentence completed, Ben is finally returning home.
As he struggles to understand the profound changes the world has undergone, some things remain painfully the same—including the hateful animosity towards Black people and the fact that the real murderer is still living the life of a genteel southerner. Working to rebuild his life and see justice served, Ben faces one confrontation after another—with friend, foe, and a daughter who thinks he is dead.
In this novel based on a real Depression Era murder case, author and Georgia historian Stephen Doster presents a vividly accurate depiction of Jim Crow’s long and painful legacy.
438 pages, Paperback
First published June 29, 2014
2 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Doster
9 books9 followersI was born in England to a mother who served as a WAFF on eight RAF fighter stations during World War II and a father who served as a navigator in the Pacific during that war on the USS Taylor, a Fletcher class destroyer that earned nine battle stars. Much to my good fortune, our family relocated first to Alabama, then Georgia, where I grew up on a small barrier island off the Georgia coast. St. Simons (now a resort area) is a low-country boil of clashing cultures. Timucua Indians, Spanish missionaries, English settlers, slaves and plantation owners, Confederate and Union soldiers, and Saltwater Geechee have all taken their turns on its stage, supplanting one another as lords and masters of the island. St. Simons is now the domain of middle and upper class families, though one trailer park still survives. Evidence of the area's past still abounds, and from it I draw much of the inspiration for plots and characters.
The island I grew up on happens to be on the 31st Parallel north of the Equator, which includes the geographic area below Savannah, north of the Georgia-Florida border, and everything east and west of that. Down on the 31st and 32nd Parallels, you're in the Deep South of the "Deep South". Look at all the writers who come from those strips, and don't surprised if you start to see some similarities in their works. It has to do with their shared history, the geography, and the people who inhabit those realms. Many of the early Georgia settlers traveled directly west to settle regions in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. They took their histories and their stories with them. Part of the Southern writer's job is to resurrect those stories and their histories in creating new works. It's recycling of the highest order.
I have a business degree from the University of Georgia and a masters from Vanderbilt University where I work.
The island I grew up on happens to be on the 31st Parallel north of the Equator, which includes the geographic area below Savannah, north of the Georgia-Florida border, and everything east and west of that. Down on the 31st and 32nd Parallels, you're in the Deep South of the "Deep South". Look at all the writers who come from those strips, and don't surprised if you start to see some similarities in their works. It has to do with their shared history, the geography, and the people who inhabit those realms. Many of the early Georgia settlers traveled directly west to settle regions in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. They took their histories and their stories with them. Part of the Southern writer's job is to resurrect those stories and their histories in creating new works. It's recycling of the highest order.
I have a business degree from the University of Georgia and a masters from Vanderbilt University where I work.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 8, 2021
A most remarkable book, both beautiful and tragic. I finished it this week while spending time at a cottage in the Okefenokee. Paddling a canoe across Billy's Lake, of course I thought of Billy Waters. Driving home today and crossing the Altamaha I scanned the banks and imagined Ben fleeing and floating. Heck just driving up US highways 441 and 84 I wondered about the men who built those highways.
This book will stay with me a long time. It's my first by this author but will most definitely not be my last.
This book will stay with me a long time. It's my first by this author but will most definitely not be my last.
November 13, 2020
This story is wonderful! The history of coastal Georgia really comes to life in this author’s voice. I find the Geechee culture so rich and fascinating. I learned so much reading this book and recommended it to many of my hometown friends who also grew up in Brunswick and St. Simons Island, GA.
December 24, 2014
I received Jesus Tree from Goodreads Giveaways. What follows is my honest opinion of this book.
If you just read one book in 2015, let it be Jesus Tree. I had not read any of Mr. Doster's prior books but felt I would like Jesus Tree, as the setting for this story is my home state, Georgia. I have great appreciation for the incredible amount of research that Mr. Doster did prior to writing this book, delving into the murder of the white pastor in southeast Georgia during the depression and the subsequent 40 year prison sentence served by the black man who was wrongly convicted of the crime, which true event served as a basis for this story.
Beyond that though, the author spent a great deal of time in explaining the African culture of coastal Georgia, the belief system that dominated the lives of the blacks living in areas such as Sapelo Island; the culture that made Ben Jordan into the honest, god-fearing man he remained throughout his entire life.
This story was extremely well crafted and knitted together as Ben's story is told from birth to death; the predictions made at the time of his birth and how they all played out in the following 60 years or so. The descriptions of the root doctor and his conjures to the torture Ben endured in the prison camp seemed so real I felt I could have been there. The incredible emotion as Ben finally completes his journey back to Sapelo Island and his redemption were the ultimate great ending to the story that I was expecting.
I won't say more and spoil this book for anyone else. I can't say enough good things about this book and I trust anyone else who spends the time with Jesus Tree will feel the same.
If you just read one book in 2015, let it be Jesus Tree. I had not read any of Mr. Doster's prior books but felt I would like Jesus Tree, as the setting for this story is my home state, Georgia. I have great appreciation for the incredible amount of research that Mr. Doster did prior to writing this book, delving into the murder of the white pastor in southeast Georgia during the depression and the subsequent 40 year prison sentence served by the black man who was wrongly convicted of the crime, which true event served as a basis for this story.
Beyond that though, the author spent a great deal of time in explaining the African culture of coastal Georgia, the belief system that dominated the lives of the blacks living in areas such as Sapelo Island; the culture that made Ben Jordan into the honest, god-fearing man he remained throughout his entire life.
This story was extremely well crafted and knitted together as Ben's story is told from birth to death; the predictions made at the time of his birth and how they all played out in the following 60 years or so. The descriptions of the root doctor and his conjures to the torture Ben endured in the prison camp seemed so real I felt I could have been there. The incredible emotion as Ben finally completes his journey back to Sapelo Island and his redemption were the ultimate great ending to the story that I was expecting.
I won't say more and spoil this book for anyone else. I can't say enough good things about this book and I trust anyone else who spends the time with Jesus Tree will feel the same.
September 23, 2014
“From the moment I opened the book I knew it was going to be good. Stephen Doster is a master storyteller and wordsmith. He takes you through the rabbit hole to Sapelo Island, Georgia. I have had the privilege of staying there at Cornelia Bailey’s house (You can, too. Go online. She wrote God, Dr. Buzzard, and the Bolito Man: A Saltwater Geechee Talks About Life on Sapelo Island, Georgia). It was made so much more real since I had seen the area, smelled the briny marsh and walked the dirt roads on the coastal barrier island. Jesus Tree Starts out and ends there. What happens in-between is what keeps you from doing laundry and walking the dog. You do not want to stop until you find out what happens. I highly recommend this book and any of Stephen’s other works: Lord Baltimore, Voices from St. Simons, Georgia Witness, Rose Bush and Shadow Child. From the time I read Lord Baltimore, I had to have every one of them.”
— Jeanie Loiacono
— Jeanie Loiacono
March 20, 2015
I won this book on GoodReads.
"Jesus Tree" is a well written story. Set in Costal Georgia
the book is a realistic look at the way life was in the south in the depression era. Sadly, some of the prejudices so realistically portrayed in the book are still part of southern life today in some areas of the south! By being brave enough to use the language of the era the author has written a book that is very authentic and intriguing! The story pulls you in and stays with you long after you have turned the last page!!
"Jesus Tree" is a well written story. Set in Costal Georgia
the book is a realistic look at the way life was in the south in the depression era. Sadly, some of the prejudices so realistically portrayed in the book are still part of southern life today in some areas of the south! By being brave enough to use the language of the era the author has written a book that is very authentic and intriguing! The story pulls you in and stays with you long after you have turned the last page!!
September 3, 2016
An excellent story dealing with the life of an African-American man convicted of murdering a white minister in Coastal Georgia during the Depression. Stephen Doster does an excellent job recreating the southern scene complete with language and words appropriate to the time. The story includes scenes striking contrast between the spiritual beliefs of the Coastal African-Americans and people living on the main land. This novel is slated to become a classic in the genre of Southern Literature.
October 10, 2014
This is one of the best authors of historical fiction. He brings his characters to life. Hard story to read because of the treatment of convicts in 1930s. But main character will grab your heart. Also great historical information on an African culture and beliefs.
December 28, 2015
Wow, incredible southern historical fiction. This book draws you in as the authors masterful writing plays the story in your head like a movie. Absolutely one of the best novels I've read in years! Highly recommended!!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews