Back Creek

The novel takes place in the fictional rural town of Back Creek, Virginia. It is geographically located along the real river called Back Creek, which is a tributary of the Potomac River. Back Creek is the town of residence for all of the novel’s characters, and it is also where Henry’s grain mill is located. At the time of the novel, slavery is legal in Virginia, and Henry and Sapphira own several slaves. Sapphira moved to Back Creek after marrying Henry. She is originally form a wealthy family who lives in the town of Chestnut Hill, Virginia.

1856

The main narrative takes place in the year 1856, about five years before the start if the Civil War. Slavery is still legal in Virginia at this time, and the Colberts own several slaves. The Underground Railroad was established a few decades earlier as a way of helping secretly...