A Sitting in St. James
A Sitting in St. James by Rita Williams-Garcia, published by Quill Tree Books in 2021, is a profound exploration of the interwoven lives tied to a plantation in antebellum America. This novel, written in English and spanning 460 pages, delves into the complexities of family and the harsh realities of American racism, as it follows Madame Sylvie Guilbert, who, after decades as the mistress of Le Petit Cottage, decides to sit for a portrait despite her family’s objections.
Readers will encounter a narrative that reveals the stories of generations, from the grand house to the fields, uncovering buried secrets and the intricate relationships between descendants and the enslaved. The book presents a vivid portrayal of life in 1860 Louisiana, highlighting the routine horrors and the tangled bonds that define the Guilberts’ legacy. Through its historical context and focus on social topics, A Sitting in St. James offers a critical reflection on the past, making it relevant for both young adult and adult audiences.
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Winner of the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award!
7 starred reviews! “Monumental.” –Booklist (starred review) * “A marathon masterpiece.”–Kirkus (starred review) * “Necessary.”–SLJ (starred review) * “Shocking and dramatic.”–Shelf Awareness (starred review) * “Mesmerizing, confounding and vividly rendered.”–Book Page (starred review) * “Williams-Garcia’s storytelling is magnificent; her voice honest and authentic.”–Horn Book (starred review)
This astonishing novel from three-time National Book Award finalist Rita Williams-Garcia about the interwoven lives of those bound to a plantation in antebellum America is an epic masterwork–empathetic, brutal, and entirely human–and essential reading for both teens and adults grappling with the long history of American racism.
1860, Louisiana. After serving as mistress of Le Petit Cottage for more than six decades, Madame Sylvie Guilbert has decided, in spite of her family’s objections, to sit for a portrait.
While Madame plots her last hurrah, stories that span generations–from the big house to out in the fields–of routine horrors, secrets buried as deep as the family fortune, and the tangled bonds of descendants and enslaved, come to light to reveal a true portrait of the Guilberts.
Rita Williams-Garcia is one of the preeminent authors of our time. She has been honored with the Children’s Literature Lecture Award from the American Library Association.
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