Dispatches from Pluto

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In this captivating exploration, adventure writer Richard Grant embarks on a journey in the Mississippi Delta, a region often misunderstood yet rich in beauty and complexity. Leaving behind their New York City apartment, Grant and his girlfriend, Mariah, purchase an old plantation house in a remote area beyond the small community of Pluto. Their new life involves learning to hunt, grow their own food, and navigate encounters with alligators and snakes. They meet a diverse cast of local characters, including blues legend T-Model Ford, cookbook author Martha Foose, and even actor Morgan Freeman. Grant’s empathetic perspective allows him to capture the extraordinary culture of the Delta while also addressing its bizarre and criminal elements. He delves into the region’s ongoing racial tensions, revealing a landscape marked by de facto segregation yet filled with interdependent relationships between black and white families. Despite observing significant societal issues, Grant finds reasons for hope amid the complexities. This narrative is lively, entertaining, and insightful, blending travel writing with reflections on poverty, community, and race. Ultimately, it’s a love story, as Grant not only falls for Mariah but also for the enchanting place they now call home, concluding that Mississippi is America’s best-kept secret.