The Tilted World

A Novel

By: Tom Franklin, Beth Ann Fennelly

Narrated by: Brian D'Arcy James

Set against the backdrop of the historic flooding of the Mississippi River, The Tilted World is an extraordinary tale of murder and moonshine, sandbagging and saboteurs, and a man and a woman who find unexpected love, from Tom Franklin, the acclaimed author of the New York Times bestseller Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, and award-winning poet Beth Ann Fennelly

The year is 1927. As rains swell the Mississippi, the mighty river threatens to burst its banks and engulf everything in its path, including federal revenue agent Ted Ingersoll and his partner, Ham Johnson. Arriving in the tiny hamlet of Hobnob, Mississippi, to investigate the disappearance of two fellow agents who'd been on the trail of a local bootlegger, they are astonished to find a baby boy abandoned in the middle of a crime scene.

Ingersoll, an orphan raised by nuns, is determined to find the infant a home, and his search leads him to Dixie Clay Holliver. A strong woman married too young to a philandering charmer, Dixie Clay has lost a child to illness and is powerless to resist this second chance at motherhood. From the moment they meet, Ingersoll and Dixie Clay are drawn to each other. He has no idea that she's the best bootlegger in the county and may be connected to the agents' disappearance. And while he seems kind and gentle, Dixie Clay knows full well that he is an enemy who can never be trusted.

When Ingersoll learns that a saboteur might be among them, planning a catastrophe along the river that would wreak havoc in Hobnob, he knows that he and Dixie Clay will face challenges and choices that they will be fortunate to survive. Written with extraordinary insight and tenderness, The Tilted World is that rarest of creations, a story of seemingly ordinary people who find hope and deliverance where they least expect it—in each other.

A Gripping Historically Based Thriller

With much gumption, our heroine, Dixie Clay comes into her womanhood with infatuation, hard work, and loss. She endures with great strength and ingenuity, until one day she meets an unlikely ally, who begins her life anew. But...happiness does not come easily for Dixie and Teddy, who are close to being star crossed lovers.
This story is well written and keeps your attention throughout the reading. The narration is decent, but Dixie’s voice and the few other females were too squeaky. Still, Mr. James nails the accents and enhances the overall credibility and enjoyment of the story. Definitely worth the credit.

Everything you want from a novel

Drama, suspense, natural disaster, poetic language, and a great love story between a real hero and heroine. Did not want this story to end.

Engaging, redemptive, vivid

Starts out somewhat slow but develops into a great and descriptive story.
Held our attention all during a road trip.

Very enjoyable

Commendable. Well written, lively, interesting. Well narrated. Would recommends this book to anyone. Appreciate the research required to write this story.

The Flooded Revenuers

well written story about two revenues finding family amongst bootleg whiskey in a flood of the Mississippi.