What is Delta?

Also known as the Mississippi Delta or the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta, the Delta is bounded on the west by the Mississippi River and the east by the Yazoo River. It extends from about Memphis on the north to the confluence of the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers in the south, and it is about 7,000 square miles in area. It contains some of the world's richest soil and has historically been one of the nation's poorest areas. The Delta surrounds Greenville, Mississippi, and is the area described in much of the book.