In the years before America was a nation, ships were bringing a steady stream of immigrants to New York. Some were fleeing their homeland, others were seeking their fortune, many arrived in chains. In this quickly growing city, tensions mounted, fires began burning, and accusations flew. By the time it was over, dozens would be dead -- at the hands of the government. This is a tale of desire and hope, of despair and tragedy. Grounding his story in true events, Robert Mayer (author of the acclaimed historical drama The Origin Of Sorrow) brings to life searingly vivid characters, showing how their lives intertwine with each other and with the fears and passions of the day. By humanizing major events and showing the tensions of race and class that drive them, Mayer gives us a novel that is ripped from the headlines of colonial America yet still echoes in the headlines of today.