Of One Blood

Attending medical school in Boston, Reuel Briggs has neither wealth nor the good looks of the upper-class white society with which he surrounds himself. He is, however, incredibly talented, and has a rare gift in the psychological study of mysticism and supernatural phenomenon. Even if his peers aren’t too keen on him, they can’t help but be awed by his talent, and subsequently call on his aid in reaching out to the minds of the sick and dying who would otherwise be lost. Though this field of mysticism is his life’s work and sole talent, it may soon be his downfall as it leads him down a dark path of secrets and discoveries. Of One Blood was first published serially in The Colored American Magazine, which Hopkins edited at the time. Written at the turn of the century and shortly after the Civil War, Hopkins explores the legacy of slavery, questions of identity, and the bounds of love and loyalty.