Clay Cane + Reecie Colbert: Burn Down Master’s House

Join us for a release event with award-winning journalist, writer, radio host, and political analyst Clay Cane, discussing his new novel Burn Down Master’s House. Joining Clay in conversation is bestselling author Reecie Colbert. This event will be hosted in the Strand Book Store's 3rd floor Rare Book Room at 828 Broadway on 12th Street.

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Inspired by true, long-buried stories of enslaved people who dared to fight back, a searing portrayal of resistance for readers of Colson Whitehead, Jesmyn Ward, and Percival Everett, from Clay Cane, award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author of The Grift.

As turmoil simmers within a divided nation, smoke from another blaze begins to rise. Sparked by individual acts of resistance among those enslaved across the American South, their seemingly disparate rebellions fuel a singular inferno of justice, connecting them in ways quiet at times, explosive at others. As these flames rise, so will they.

Luke, quick-witted and literate, and Henri, a man with a strong and defiant spirit, forge an unbreakable bond at a Virginia plantation called Magnolia Row. Both seek escape from unimaginable cruelty. And sure as the fires of hell, Luke and Henri will leave their mark, sparking resistance among the lives they touch…

One is Josephine, a young, sharp, and observant girl who wields silence as her greatest weapon. A witness to Luke and Henri’s resilience, she listens, watches, waits for the moment to make her move.

Then there is Charity Butler, her husband, a formerly enslaved man who proved his ferocity as a young boy standing alongside Josephine. At his encouragement, Charity fights for her freedom in court and wins – only to battle a deeply unjust system designed to destroy the life they’ve built.

And finally, there is Nathaniel, who ruthlessly exploits other Black people and mirrors the cruelty of the white men who, like him, are enslavers. A perversion of the system of slavery, his fragile and contradictory rule will become a catalyst of its own.

Inspired by the true stories of the profoundly courageous men and women who dared to fight back, Burn Down Master’s House is a singular tour de force of a novel—breathtaking in scope, compassion, and a timeliness that speaks powerfully to our present era.

Clay Cane is an award-winning journalist, radio host, political analyst, and New York Times bestselling author. His book, The Grift: The Downward Spiral of Black Republicans from the Party of Lincoln to the Cult of Trump, released in January 2024, quickly soared to the bestseller lists, including USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly, and became an instant New York Times bestseller.

Clay’s sharp insights and engaging commentary have been featured on television networks like MSNBC, CNN, FOX, and ABC. His interview roster includes Vice President Kamala Harris, Dan Rather, Whoopi Goldberg, Tyler Perry, Beyoncé Knowles, and more.

In addition to his bestselling books, Clay was a co-editor and contributor to the 2012 anthology For Colored Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Still Not Enough: Coming of Age, Coming Out, and Coming Home, and he contributed to Where Did Our Love Go: Love and Relationships in the African American Community in 2013. His first book, Live Through This: Surviving the Intersections of Sexuality, God and Race, released in 2017, received critical acclaim.

Clay is a Rutgers University graduate, Phi Beta Kappa, with a B.A. in English and African American Studies. His BET documentary, Holler If You Hear Me: Black and Gay in the Church, earned a 2016 GLAAD Media Award nomination and was showcased at a Black History Month event at the Obama White House. His radio show, The Clay Cane Show, launched in November 2017 on SiriusXM’s Urban View channel 126, delves into politics and culture with thought leaders, activists, and celebrities, reaching millions of listeners weekly.

Reecie Colbert is an accomplished Democratic political strategist, bestselling author, advocate, speaker, and SiriusXM radio host. A UCLA and Northeastern University alumnus, Reecie lives in the Washington, D.C. area and is a seasoned White House press pooler.

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