"A fascinating tale of two cities told through the rise of two of Atlanta's most illustrious political families...highly significant in what it reveals about ambition, hard work, success, and race relations."—David Levering Lewis.

The intersection of Peachtree Street and Sweet Auburn mirrors the often separate but mutually dependent relations between whites and blacks in Atlanta. Through hundreds of interviews and five years of painstaking research, Gary Pomerantz, a reporter for the "Atlanta Journal-Constitution", shows how two families, one white, one black, rose to social, economical and political prominence in the capitol of the new South. photos.

A Notable Book of the Year by The New York Times

 “The definitive history of Atlanta’s turmoil and triumph from the Civil War until now.” -- USA Today

“A magnificent piece of writing, a beautiful tapestry of prose in which the stories of two of Atlanta’s most celebrated families have been woven densely into the history of the city itself.” -- New York Times Book Review

"Through rich details and vibrant characterizations, the author delivers a comprehensive overview of the struggle for civil rights in a major Southern city." -- Publishers Weekly