Mark Woolcutt, a gnarled branch of our family tree, the genealogist wanted to ignore. Should we dismiss the branches that are in the shadows? He was of the underclass, sold into slavery, surviving in colonial New England, by his native wit and lack of scruples. We benefit from these ancestors, but ask the researcher "isn't there a Duke in there somewhere?" Alas, there wasn't. And that sets the stage for the first half of the book. Then a few memoir shorts stories, and finally, a novelette. All easy, enjoyable reading.