Description: "This polyphonic novel tells the story of Henry Lloyd, a mysterious character that, slowly but surely, builds an empire in the mid-eighteen hundreds. Bold, sharp, and smart, the only person he fears is his nemesis, Jack Barley, the only one who could bring down his empire. Jack Barley is an eleven-year-old kid who kills a boy in self-defense, and then kills his family, so has to skip town before the authorities capture him and put his head in a noose. Henry Lloyd's and Jack Barley's stories run parallel until their inevitable faceoff."--Provided by publisher.