Wench: A Novel [B0546]

2011 PB in nice clean condition. Dolen Perkins-Valdez's enchanting and unforgettable novel, based on little-known fact, tells the story of four black enslaved women in the years preceding the Civil War and explores, with an unflinching eye, the moral complexities of slavery.

wench \'wench\ n. from Middle English "wenchel,"1 a: a girl, maid, young woman; a female child.

Situated in Ohio, a free territory before the Civil War, Tawawa House is an idyllic retreat for Southern white men who vacation there every summer with their enslaved black mistresses. It's their open secret. Lizzie, Reenie, and Sweet are regulars at the resort, building strong friendships over the years. But when Mawu, as fearless as she is assured, comes along and starts talking of running away, things change. To run is to leave everything behind, and for some it also means escaping from the emotional and psychological bonds that bind them to their masters. When a fire on the resort sets off a string of tragedies, the women of Tawawa House soon learn that triumph and dehumanization are inseparable and that love exists even in the most inhuman, brutal of circumstances-all while they bear witness to the end of an era.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Not surprisingly, the book was heartbreaking, angering, and blew my mind with the atrocities described. As always, Perksin-Valdez's writing is just beautiful and she writes with such passion and complexity."; "Pre-Civil War. Violence toward slaves makes difficult reading but the historical setting is interesting."; "Wench is a work of fiction but feels non-fiction. The characters are dynamic like real people, both good and bad, conflicting feelings and actions. I was hooked and a hard time putting it down."