Samuel Bass is fighting for his country, for himself, for forbidden love and for African Americans held in bondage. Leaving his wife and children, Samuel joins General Washington's newly formed Continental Army. Fighting at the battle of Germantown, he is badly wounded. Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, aide-de-camp to General Washington, rescues him from death and takes him to the home of a Quaker family in nearby Philadelphia to recover. Here he falls in love with the young woman slave assigned to care for him. Thus begins a tumultuous and, at times, dangerous journey into inner conflict, divided loyalties and a personal mission to provide equal education for everyone, regardless of their colour. In this sweeping narrative, the author skillfully gives an imaginative portrayal of one man’s life set against the background of American War for Independence but which, at the current time of global tension, addresses issues and conflicts that still resound today, such as the struggle for power and the destructive influence of widespread racial prejudice.