Virginia, 1820s/30s. Nate Turner is a slave on a cotton plantation. Through his eyes we see the conditions the slaves have to live under, in particular, the brutality of the slave-owners. Due to having the rare privilege of being able to read, Nate is a Christian preacher. His ability to influence other slaves is used by the slave-owners to their own ends, and ultimately by Nate to fight back.—grantss