The Ballad of the Fugitive William Parker: A True Tale of Love, Murder, Treason, and Ordinary Folks Who Saved America
Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz
(Simon & Schuster, 2026)

On a September morning in 1851, a Maryland enslaver and his posse arrived in Pennsylvania to drag four men back into bondage. They were met by a diverse community of neighbors who gathered to stop them, violating the Fugitive Slave Act. What ensued was dubbed the “Christiana Riot,” and it led to a landmark trial that advanced the path to the Civil War. Much more than the story of that single bloody morning, the tale of events leading up to it was one of bravery, ingenuity, and hope involving ordinary people, with little in common, who came together to stand against injustice…and won.

This event is presented in partnership with Delaware Historical Society and Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justics (SDARJ).

About the Author
Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz is a New York Times bestselling nonfiction writer and poet. She is the author of eight books of poetry and Dr. Mütter’s Marvels and Words in Your Face. A seventh generation Pennsylvanian, she lives in Philadelphia with her husband, the novelist Ernest Cline, and their children.  

Purchase the book
Please help support local independent bookstores by purchasing this book at Browseabout Books, official bookseller of the History Book Festival. Online sources and digital versions are tempting; however, supporting local brick and mortar shops helps to preserve our vibrant main streets. Drop by Browseabout, order books online, or call the store at 302-226-2665. You also may purchase a copy at biblion in Lewes.

About the Festival
The History Book Festival is the first and only book festival in the United States devoted exclusively to history. With the help of our presenting funding partner —  The Lee Ann Wilkinson Group, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices | PenFed Realty — as well as our program and community partners, volunteers, and donors, the 2026 History Book Festival will be full of great discussions with authors of newly published narrative nonfiction and historical fiction. 

Thanks to all our donors, especially our education and outreach funding partners: Carolyn & Aaron Nayer, Jen Mason & Clare Hancock, the Red Wagon Foundation, and Browseabout Books. HBF authors visit classrooms in Delaware, and HBF provides their books to schools, libraries, and community organizations.

Our Keynote event is presented by Griswold Home Care for Sussex & Kent Counties and Groome Church; our Closing event is presented by the Delaware Community Foundation. The Spirited Discussion, our gathering for attendees and presenters to celebrate and discuss their day, is presented by Dogfish Head Beer & Benevolence. The authors' welcome reception is made possible by Half Full and Historic Lewes, while their Saturday reception is made possible by Ronald Collins and Susan Cohen

Special thanks to our Program Partners for their continuing support: the Lewes Public Library for event promotion and production; Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, official bookseller of the History Book Festival; and Historic Lewes for event promotion and author hospitality. Thanks also to the Lewes Chamber of Commerce for event promotion, and the Cape Gazette and Delmarva Public Media, our media partners.