TheculminationofChristopherTilghman’sgreatChesapeakesaga,astoryspanningfourcenturiesofanAmericanfamily.ItistheFourthofJuly2019,andtheMasonfamilyisgatheringattheirhistoricChesapeakefarm,Mason’sRetreat.Itisn’teveryone’sfavoriteparty,butHarryMasonhasonceagaingoadedhiswife,Kate,andtheirchildrenintohostingacelebratorydinner.Theiroldest,Rosalie,ishavingtroublewithhermarriage;theyoungest,Ethan,isinthethroesofafitfulfirstrelationship.Inbetween,Eleanordespairsoverherstallednovel,afictionalizedmemoirofthewifeofthefirstMasonsettlerwholandedtherein1659.Kate,recoveringfromasecondroundofchemotherapy,isatthecenterofthisritualofremembrance.Tartandcandid,sheasksherhusband,“Whatcrimeagainsthumanitydidyourfamilynotcommitonthatland?“Andsoitismoreorlessinevitablethatwhentheclan,joinedbyacastofneighborsandcousinsfromFrance,sitsdownfordinner,thequestionofhowtheyshouldthinkandfeelabouttheirpastcomestothefore.Toldwithironyanddeepinsight,OntheTobaccoCoastisChristopherTilghman’sconcludingmeditationonthethemesofhisnovelsaboutthisancestralmonument:theprideandshameinitslonghistory,thepersistenceoffamilystories,raceandprivilege,theenigmasandcustomsofregions.ItisareflectsonthestateofAmericatoday,withitsbattleswithitsownhistoryandeffortstoreckonwiththewrongsofthepastwhilelookingforwardtoanuncertain,morejustfuture.
