Reviewed by Curtis Lyons, Head, Special Collections and Archives
Scorched Earth, a stark deviation from Robbins's highly regarded books set in World War II, is a modern Southern novel reminiscent of early 20th century works by authors such as Ellen Glasgow and William Faulkner. The compelling story follows a number of colorful characters in a Virginia town where a series of tragic events forces the spotlight on Old South concepts of race, religion, society, and politics still lingering beneath the surface in the face of a younger population with much more modern views. Robbins, a lawyer in addition to author, takes an intriguing look at social and political structures through a realistic and entertaining array of criminal investigations, court trials, and illicit small town relationships.
