Set against the tumultuous backdrop of the Civil War era, 'Song of the Shank' is a powerful narrative centered around Thomas Greene Wiggins, a slave born with exceptional musical prowess who performed as Blind Tom. The novel unfolds in 1866, following Tom and his guardian, Eliza Bethune, as they navigate life in a society scarred by conflicts and riots. When a mysterious visitor from Edgemere, a haven for African settlers and refugees, arrives with news of Tom's liberated mother, the story takes a dramatic turn, exploring themes of freedom, identity, and the inescapable influence of music. Through the life of this enigmatic figure, the novel exposes the exploitation faced by Blind Tom at the hands of those who saw him as nothing more than a means to wealth, framing a richly imagined tale that interrogates the intersection of race, art, and humanity.