Discarded Shackles--The Escape, captures the emotion and flavor of the South during the pre-Civil War days. Ellza is a slave girl with unusual privilege. Her purpose in life is to be a playmate and companion to the white daughter of a plantation owner. Her life is sheltered under the roof of the big-house and the influence of the master's daughter. All goes well in Ellza's life until the day the young mistress determines to leave to become the wife of a slave owner on a neighboring plantation. She is suddenly forced to face the brutal reality that she is property to be sold and used as it pleases someone else. Faced with this reality, Ellza chooses to run away with another slave to what she knows only as the promised land. Her life is dramatically changed. The oppressive mantle of slavery and the sweet call of freedom create a tension that envelops every aspect of her life. This historical fiction story sets the stage for a series of stories chronicling her journey.