The Eleventh Commandment

Written by Choles Meeks Phillips and Michael Phillips, this work of fiction seeks to dramatize the life and complex destiny of a powerful southern man and his family.

Centered on rich landowner Tom Lacey, the saga reveals that his demanding personality has put a great deal of stress upon his family. Tom is not the type of man to hide his disappointment in his children, and when his daughter Hannah becomes pregnant by a black farmhand named Lem, Tom reacts by killing the man.

Because of Lem's light appearance, Tom passes off the child as white. Tom feels a great deal of affection for the boy and treats him well despite his mixed parentage. Through a detailed plot, the chronicle follows Tom as his complicated actions and personality eventually catch up with him.

As the story concludes, Tom has come to see the error of his ways and tries to make amends for his racial prejudices. In The Eleventh Commandment, the authors' descriptions of events, supporting characters, and settings are intended to augment the scope and tone of this narrative.