The genesis of the novel was an article Hobson had read in the February 14, 1944 issue of "Time" magazine, which reported that John E. Rankin, Democratic congressman from Mississippi, while addressing the House of Representatives, had referred to newspaper columnist Walter Winchell as "the little kike." According to "Time", Rankin was not condemned by his colleagues, but was enthusiastically applauded at the end of his speech. Hobson was shocked, not only by Rankin's remark, but by the response of the House as well. She began to wonder: "How antisemitic "was" this country, this America, these United States? Not just among the outright bigots like Congressman Rankin... but other people, people who'd never call anybody a kike, people who said they loathed prejudice?"