Cane River
Cane River by Lalita Tademy, published by Grand Central Publishing in February 2005, is a historical fiction novel that explores the lives of four generations of African-American women. Spanning 584 pages, this edition, part of Oprah’s Book Club, chronicles their journey from slavery to freedom, beginning on a Creole plantation in Louisiana. Tademy presents a narrative that delves into the struggles and triumphs of these women as they navigate the complexities of their identities against the backdrop of significant historical events.
Readers will find a richly detailed saga that highlights the resilience and determination of its characters, including Elisabeth, Suzette, Philomene, and Emily. Each woman’s story reflects the challenges of their time, from the Civil War to the realities of Jim Crow and the pre-Civil Rights South. Through meticulous research, Tademy offers a unique perspective on family life and the cultural attitudes of rural Louisiana, providing insight into the personal and collective struggles faced by African-American women throughout history. This edition also includes a reading group guide for further exploration of its themes.
Official synopsis Publisher
A New York Times bestseller and Oprah’s Book Club Pick-the unique and deeply moving saga of four generations of African-American women whose journey from slavery to freedom begins on a Creole plantation in Louisiana.
Beginning with her great-great-great-great grandmother, a slave owned by a Creole family, Lalita Tademy chronicles four generations of strong, determined black women as they battle injustice to unite their family and forge success on their own terms. They are women whose lives begin in slavery, who weather the Civil War, and who grapple with contradictions of emancipation, Jim Crow, and the pre-Civil Rights South. As she peels back layers of racial and cultural attitudes, Tademy paints a remarkable picture of rural Louisiana and the resilient spirit of one unforgettable family.
There is Elisabeth, who bears both a proud legacy and the yoke of bondage… her youngest daughter, Suzette, who is the first to discover the promise-and heartbreak-of freedom… Suzette’s strong-willed daughter Philomene, who uses a determination born of tragedy to reunite her family and gain unheard-of economic independence… and Emily, Philomene’s spirited daughter, who fights to secure her children’s just due and preserve their dignity and future.
Meticulously researched and beautifully written, Cane River presents a slice of American history never before seen in such piercing and personal detail.
*Includes reading group guide
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