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The Road from Chapel Hill
Joanna Catherine Scott
Introduction
Once, Eugenia Mae Spotswood spent her days being courted by the very finest men of Wilmington and
planning a privileged future as a landed Southern belle. Then her family lost everything. Now, as
she toils for survival aboveground while her father works a mine for a pittance, she longs to regain
the life she lost. But her desires are about to turn far more unlikely—and dangerous—than she ever dreamed.
Thought only to be a hulking lackwit, Mr. Morgan’s slave Tom was smart enough to know one thing: he wanted
his freedom. So when he’s caught and almost crippled after making a run for it, he’s surprised to find himself
owned—and cared for—by Eugenia Spotswood. But what begins as a cautious friendship threatens to grow into
something more, and Tom must decide between his freedom—and his love.
Farm boy Clyde Bricket always wanted more than his papa would allow. So when he helps capture the runaway Tom,
he thinks he’s found his calling as a patroller and retriever, collecting renegade slaves. But time will show
him that not every cause is worth dying for—and that sometimes the only way to redeem yourself is to fight against
everything you thought you believed in…
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About the Author
Joanna Catherine Scott was born in England and raised in Australia. A poet as well as a novelist, she has received
numerous literary rewards, including the Longleaf Poetry Award and a Pushcart Prize nomination. She lives in Chapel Hill,
North Carolina.
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| Discussion Questions
At the beginning of the novel, a resentful Eugenia is having a discussion with her father regarding their current financial and social situation. As he gives thanks that her mother is not alive to see how far they’ve fallen, she states “Why, sir, I am alive.” What does her shame about their new social status say about her character? How would you have reacted in a similar situation?
Eugenia is forced to serve as a nurse to the injured miners while she and her father live in Chapel Hill. Later, when she lives with Aunt Baker, she willingly nurses the deserting soldiers with zeal. What do you think drives her now? How much of her passion is guilt over the death of her father and her role in it? What about the soldiers reminds her of her father?
Would you characterize the love between Tom and Eugenia as romantic, or is it more complicated? How do Eugenia’s feelings for Tom begin to change her character? When Eugenia notices the pain that Tom is in on the rockers, she persuades her father to change his daily duties out of concern. Why do you think she feels pity for Tom and not her father?
After Mr. Spotswood purchases Tom for Eugenia, Miz Hedra begins to refer to Eugenia as ‘Miss Hoity-Toity.’ Would you call this a reflection of Hedra’s disdain for slavery, her jealousy of Eugenia, or both? Do you agree with Eugenia’s assessment that Hedra is a hypocrite?
The theme of freedom runs throughout the novel. When the rockers receive their wages, Eugenia’s entire pay goes into her father’s hands, while Tom takes a cut for himself. In what ways is Tom, despite his slavery, freer than Eugenia? In which ways are Clyde, a free white boy, enslaved as well?
All three of the protagonists in the novel have some issue with their father (Tom’s lack, Eugenia’s disdain, Clyde’s abuse). Discuss the ways in which they handle their patriarchal difficulties.
During a discussion about race, Tom responds, “Don’t rightly know, Miz Genie. Angry, mebbe” when asked how he thinks it feels to be white. He goes on to explain that despite her outwardly affection, he can tell that she’s angry with her father. What else do you think Tom sees in her? In what ways is Tom the most perceptive character in the story, despite being called a simpleton? How does Tom’s tale of his father begin to affect Eugenia’s feelings towards her own?
On page 112, Eugenia awakens in the middle of the night, and attempts to reconcile with her father. In his sleep, calling her ‘Tilda,’ he rapes her. How does this new knowledge of her father’s infidelity, coupled with his decision to sell Tom and relocate them to Australia, drive her rebellion?
Discuss the different reasons that Mr. Spotswood may have had to take his own life. Could it have been more than the fact that Eugenia ran off with Tom?
Clyde spends much of the beginning of the novel planning to become a patroller, catching runaway slaves. Instead, he winds up fighting for the North, and loses much for his ideals. Discuss the instances in which Clyde shows himself to be more of a man than he was at the outset of his journey. In which ways is he still very much a boy?
Eugenia is rescued from a life of poverty by Dr. Kinney, who places her with Aunt Baker after her father kills himself. During a long talk between the two women, Aunt Baker declares, “it is a sin against God to buy and sell his children.” In what ways does Aunt Baker begin to affect Eugenia’s growth as a woman? In what ways is this a turning point in her life?
“Too late, she saw him as a man battered by exigency.” How does Eugenia’s newfound understanding of her father and his position affect her work as a nurse for the Red Strings?
Are there any parallels that can be drawn between the story of Rahab and the Order of the Heroes of America? Between Jericho and the South? Discuss.
Do you believe that all Eugenia needed to become a better person was a strong mother figure? How do Alouette, Henry, Aunt Baker, and Eugenia fill the gaps in each other’s lives to form a family?
Robert tells Tom “Freedom ain’t some gift this Miss Genie lady give you….You got to hunt I down and catch it. You got to snatch it in your hand.” How does this statement affect Tom’s perception of freedom? How do each of the three protagonists go about taking their freedom?
After he chooses the last name ‘Freedman’, Tom feels as if he’s lost a part of his mother and his life. How much does a name affect a personality, in your opinion?
Eugenia battles with all that she has to save Clyde from death, going so far as to accompany him to Chapel Hill in order to have him re-amputate his leg. Why do you think she needs him to survive so badly? Why do you think Clyde is so desperate to go home, despite the dangers of the journey?
How does the town of Chapel Hill itself act as a character in the story?
Throughout their separate trials, Eugenia and Tom continue to think of one another, Tom even going so far as fantasizing about one day marrying her. How do their feelings for one another keep them strong? Eugenia watches Henry and Aunt Baker together
Eugenia learns a shocking secret about herself towards the end of the novel. Thinking back, how did the author allude to it all along? Do you think that this affected Eugenia’s perception of herself?
At the end of the novel, Eugenia and Tom pass each other on the streets of Chapel Hill, neither noticing the other. How is this indicative of their entire relationship? How do you think their lives ended? Do you think that their lives would have been happier if circumstance allowed them to be together?
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