The story starts out with Big Emma's life as a child- her daddy killing her mama one sunday morning and everything she had to endure- including her life as a prostitute. Racehoss (the author) is her son and the story switching to his life and what HE endured as her son growing up in the whorehouse, as an abused child, as a soldier, convict and out to the other side. I have read MANY, MANY books and autobiographies being MY FAVORITE- this is BY FAR the best book I have ever read!