Some books just sit on a shelf and collect dust, but Ann Fairbairn’s Five Smooth Stones is the kind of novel that stays under your skin. It’s heavy. It’s long—clocking in at nearly 800 pages in most editions—and it’s a brutal, beautiful reminder of what the Civil Rights era actually felt like for the people living through it.
If you’ve ever wondered why this specific 1966 bestseller keeps popping up in used bookstores and on "must-read" lists for historical fiction junkies, it’s not just because of the drama. It’s the grit. Fairbairn didn't write a sanitized version of the 1960s. She wrote about David Champlin, a Black man born into poverty in New Orleans who fights his way to Harvard and Oxford, only to realize that all the degrees in the world won’t protect him from a sniper’s bullet or the visceral hatred of a segregated Jim Crow South.
The David and Goliath of the 20th Century
The title isn't just a clever biblical reference. It’s the core of the whole story. In the Bible, David only needed one stone to take down Goliath, but he picked up five just in case. In Five Smooth Stones, David Champlin is that underdog. His "stones" are his intellect, his education, his resilience, his love, and eventually, his sacrifice.
It’s easy to forget how radical this book was when it first hit the stands. Published at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, it tackled interracial romance with a level of nuance that most white authors of the time couldn't touch. David falls for Sara Kent, a white girl he meets in college. Their relationship isn't some "happily ever after" fairytale; it's a messy, dangerous, and exhausting struggle against a society that views their love as a crime.
Fairbairn—whose real name was Dorothy Tait—was a white woman, but she spent years immersed in the world she wrote about. She managed jazz musicians and spent significant time in the South. You can feel that authenticity in the rhythm of the dialogue. It doesn’t feel like a caricature.
Why David Champlin’s Journey Matters Now
David’s life is a masterclass in the "double consciousness" that W.E.B. Du Bois famously talked about. He lives in two worlds. In one, he’s a brilliant scholar and a diplomat. In the other, he’s just another Black man who can’t get a decent meal in a roadside diner without risking his life.
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The tension in the Five Smooth Stones book comes from David’s internal battle. Does he stay in the North, or even in Europe, where he’s respected? Or does he go back to the mud and the blood of the South to help his people? Honestly, it’s a question that still resonates. It’s about the cost of success and the weight of responsibility.
The character of Li’l Joe, David’s grandfather, is arguably the heart of the first half of the book. He’s a man who has been broken by the system but refuses to let David’s spirit be crushed. The relationship between them is what grounds the high-stakes political drama later in the novel. It’s about roots.
Breaking Down the Plot Without Spoiling the Heartbreak
The story is sprawling. It moves from the jazz-filled streets of New Orleans to the Ivy League halls of the North, then across the ocean to England and Africa, and finally back to the tension-filled South.
- The Early Years: We see David’s humble beginnings and the sheer force of will it takes for him to excel.
- The Education of David Champlin: This is where he meets Sara. This is where he learns that brilliance doesn't erase race.
- The Global Stage: David becomes involved in international affairs, showing the global context of the struggle for human rights.
- The Return: The final act is a gut-punch. David returns to the South to join the movement, knowing full well what the stakes are.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Book
Some critics over the years have called it a "melodrama." They’re wrong.
While the book definitely hits the emotional beats hard, calling it a melodrama ignores the political sophistication of the writing. Fairbairn dives deep into the legalities of the era, the shifting strategies of the SNCC and the SCLC, and the sheer logistical nightmare of organizing a protest in a town where the police are the ones holding the fire hoses.
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Also, people often think this is just a "Black history" book. It’s not. It’s a human history book. It looks at the white characters—like Sara—and forces them to confront their own complicity. Sara has to learn that being "not racist" isn't enough when the person you love is being hunted. She has to grow up fast.
The Enduring Legacy of Five Smooth Stones
There’s a reason this book was a Literary Guild selection and sold millions of copies. It’s because it refuses to give easy answers.
The ending—which I won’t spoil for you, though it’s been out for decades—is one of the most talked-about finales in 20th-century fiction. It’s polarizing. Some people find it devastatingly pessimistic; others see it as the ultimate act of hope. It forces you to ask: What is a life worth?
In 2026, as we continue to navigate complex conversations about identity and justice, the Five Smooth Stones book feels strangely contemporary. It’s a bridge between the raw emotion of the 1960s and the analytical discussions of today.
How to Approach Reading It Today
If you're going to pick up a copy, be prepared for a marathon, not a sprint.
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- Look for the 1966 Bantam paperback: The cover art is iconic. It captures that mid-century vibe perfectly.
- Don't rush the New Orleans chapters: The atmosphere Fairbairn builds in the beginning is essential for understanding David’s motivations later.
- Pay attention to the side characters: Figures like Simon the lawyer or the various activists David meets aren't just filler; they represent different philosophies of the movement.
Actionable Takeaways for Readers
If you want to truly appreciate the depth of this work, don't just read it as a story. Use it as a lens.
Contextualize the Era Pair your reading with non-fiction like The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson. Seeing the real-life Great Migration patterns helps explain David's trajectory from New Orleans to the North.
Analyze the Character Archetypes Look at how Fairbairn uses David as a "bridge" character. He is someone who can speak the language of the oppressors and the oppressed. This is a recurring theme in literature, from Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man to modern works by Ta-Nehisi Coates.
Reflect on the Sacrifice The book asks what you are willing to give up for your convictions. Most of us like to think we’d be the hero. Fairbairn shows the actual price of heroism—it’s usually paid in blood, loneliness, and lost time.
Check Your Local Used Bookstore This book is a staple of "Little Free Libraries" and second-hand shops. There is something tactile about reading an old, yellowed copy of Five Smooth Stones that makes the history feel more alive.
The Five Smooth Stones book isn't a light summer read. It’s a heavy, sprawling, often painful look at the American soul. But if you want a book that will make you think about power, love, and justice long after you’ve turned the last page, this is the one. It’s a reminder that even against a giant like Goliath, a few smooth stones and a hell of a lot of courage can change the world.
To get the most out of your experience, track the symbolic "stones" as they appear in David's life—each one represents a moment of growth or a tool he gains to fight the systemic giants he faces. Understanding these milestones is key to grasping the novel's weight.