The protagonist of James Cherry's Edge of the Wind is rooted in history, in a lineage of African-American men, real and those that take life in literature, for generations; and yet remains a voice for today and even tomorrow. An iconic individual as much influenced by Wright and Ellison and Wideman as The Staples Singers and James Brown, Alex van der Pool is a remarkable creation. In this novel, James Cherry writes with an assured voice and a deep compassion, a blazing intellect and a heart fueled by hope. This novel is a joy to read.