Hell at the Breech (2003) Signed First Edition Reference

Hell at the Breech was published by William Morrow in 2003, a historical novel based on the real Mitcham Beat uprising of the 1890s in Clarke County, Alabama. Franklin transforms this obscure episode of rural violence into a vivid, morally complex narrative that operates as both historical fiction and crime novel.

The Book

The novel follows a community of poor whites in the Alabama backwoods as economic desperation and political corruption drive them to organized violence against the local establishment. Franklin’s research into the historical events is thorough, but his literary gifts transform the raw material into something richer than historical reconstruction — a meditation on how violence erupts in communities pushed beyond endurance.

First Edition Identification

Publisher: William Morrow (HarperCollins), New York Publication date: 2003 Format: Hardcover in dust jacket

Signed Copy Market Values

• Signed first edition, fine/fine: $50–$150
• Inscribed copies: $75–$250
• Unsigned first edition: $10–$25

A strong literary-historical novel that appeals to collectors interested in Southern history, crime fiction, and literary fiction.