Midnight In Beauchamp Row, has been considered important throughout human history. In an effort to ensure that this work is never lost, we have taken steps to secure its preservation by republishing this book in a modern format for both current and future generations. This complete book has been retyped, redesigned, and reformatted. Since these books are not scans of the authors' original publications, the text is readable and clear.
In 1826, Jereboam 0. Beauchamp was sentenced to hang for assassinating Col. Solomon P. Sharp, an older man who Beachamp claimed had seduced his young wife prior to their marriage. In prison, Beauchamp wrote his Confession, which was published after his hanging. The fact that his wife committed suicide in his jail cell and was buried in the same coffin with him led to the incident's wide renown as "The Kentucky Tragedy." In addition, the Confession was extensively reprinted in cheap pamphlets during the nineteenth century, and it has inspired a number of novels, plays, short stories, and folk songs, the best known of which are Edgar Allan Poe's Politian, William Gilmore Simms's Charlemont and Beauchampe, and Robert Penn Warren's World Enough and Time.
"Dreams of a Promised Land" is a continuation of a series that began with the novel "Crimes of a Guilty Land". The series follows the story of the Beauchamp family from the early nineteenth century. "Dreams of a Promised Land" takes the story from 1920 through the early 1970s."...The P-51 Mustang was in a full power dive. The airframe was shaking as it reached or most likely exceeded its maximum rated airspeed, but Adam Beauchamp was calm and focused as the new and revolutionary enemy Me262 jet fighter came within range. This was the moment he had trained for..."That moment in Adam Beauchamp's life seemed far removed from the simple and almost idyllic years when he was growing up in Leesburg, Florida. After being abandoned by his parents at a young age, he had been raised by a loving couple who taught him the basics of life. He had spent hours with his Uncle Vernon fishing on Lake Harris, and he had enjoyed so many whimsical and fun filled times with friends. During one Spring-time, at the age of fourteen, he spent some time in Micanopy, Florida. There he not only found his future vocation in life, but he also learned a thing or two about girls. But during his childhood years, Adam was also continually reminded of his being an African American boy. He was black, and he gradually came to learn that some people had bad feelings about him and his family. He became very aware that in fact some people had bad feelings about all of the black people. He experienced some of the racial prejudice and behavior of those times. He learned to be careful. His Uncle Vernon taught him to be 'respectful.' Adam learned humiliation. The novel is primarily the memoirs of Adam Beauchamp, a successful writer and the grandson of Brownie who was one of the principal characters in "Crimes of a Guilty Land". Young Adam is desperate to learn some background to his family, and in particular concerning his parents who had walked out of his life when he was very young. An unexpected call to visit his Grandfather Brownie in 1942 yields a treasure trove of information and starts Adam down a road of discovery. That road takes him through the world of Blues musicians in the Mississippi Delta and in the City of Memphis, and through war time service as a Tuskegee Airman. Then Adam enters the Civil Rights movement with unexpected results. Love, humor, historical background and tragedy are all discovered along the way.
"Dreams Fulfilled" concludes the trilogy of the Beauchamp family. High on the snow covered Sierra Nevada ridge, the woman lay back on her horsehair bed in the wagon. A blizzard was raging outside and she knew that she and her family and friends were in danger of losing their lives, stranded in the mountains in winter. She also knew that the men were planning a final attempt to break through the pass. They carried such a strong determination to make a new life in California. She braced herself and allowed the other women to begin to help deliver her baby under near impossible conditions. A little while later, the men heard the cry and they paused in their work. A new child had joined the party and had added to both the stress of the situation and to the determination to make it through. Captain Charles Beauchamp lay in the muck of a Vietnamese swamp alongside the crashed Huey helicopter. Fuel was spilling out and the fumes were becoming stronger. He had to get away in spite of the shattered kneecap and the broken arm. He had to drag himself through the swamp. He had to move on. Charles was fighting not only a formidable enemy in the jungle, but also his family back home and a growing American opposition to the war. He had to complete his mission.Joseph watched as Major Dade rode past him on his horse, leading his men through the cabbage palms and palmetto of central Florida. Dade turned in his saddle and looked back across the two lines of men marching behind him. They were anxious to reach their destination, knowing that an ambush was highly probable. Joseph lay flat in the grass. He put his fingers into his ears and he held his breath as the shots rang out. He just wanted to be out of this turmoil. He just wanted to be free from all that held him back from beginning a new life.Just what is that characteristic in the human spirit that drives us on against near impossible odds? Following the previous two novels, "Dreams Fulfilled" takes another broad sweep across the Beauchamp family's involvement in American history; from the Seminole Wars of 1835 and the 1844 wagon trek into California, through the Vietnam War and many other personal struggles. Following the first two novels - "Crimes of a Guilty Land" and "Dreams of a Promised Land" - "Dreams Fulfilled" concludes the Beauchamp story that began in 1746 when John Beauchamp decided to leave his home in Bristol, England to start a new life in Virginia. Over the span of more than two hundred and sixty years, his family has fought against not only numerous military enemies, but also against social and racial discrimination and against sexual and religious bigotry. Dreams of a better life, and a strong will to achieve that life, has infused the family with optimism, love and determination. Humor has had its place alongside hardship."Dreams Fulfilled" takes the family up to the year 2016, and it describes their most ambitious dream and hope yet. The question as to whether it can possibly be achieved provides the basis for the novel.
