Driving the King

Set in 1950s America, this novel explores themes of race and class through the story of Nat King Cole and his childhood friend, Nat Weary, against the backdrop of Jim Crow Montgomery. After an act of bravery, Weary faces a long prison sentence, but later receives an opportunity to start anew as Cole’s driver and bodyguard in Los Angeles. The story offers a compelling look at friendship, loyalty, and the persistent inequalities faced by Black Americans during this era.