Chapter 1 Summary

The Reivers, set in the early 1900's in the South, centers on a group of individuals from Jefferson, Mississippi who are nearly family. Lucius Priest, an eleven-year-old boy, his family's retainer, Boon Hogganback, and Ned McCaslin, the family's black family member and hired help, travel to Memphis in Grandfather's stolen vehicle while Lucius' parents attend a funeral in the North. As Boon and Lucius begin their time at a bordello, however, Ned's decision to trade the vehicle for a horse, intending to race the animal, takes them all on a downward spiral into deceit, lies, and corruption.

Through the journey, Lucius learns of racism, sexism, jealousy, corruption, and betrayal. With his friend's guidance, however, Lucius also learns of morality, self-respect, dignity, and honor. The Reivers is a beautiful novel, cataloging four days in the life of a young, impressionable boy, through whose journey...