"The other couple is gay, black and enslaved": Unmentionables - A Novel
Unmentionables - A Novel
Unmentionables is an epic story of two pairs of lovers in the Civil War south. One couple is straight, white and wealthy. The other couple is gay, black and enslaved. Their fates are intertwined in ways that none of them could have imagined.
From ForeWord Clarion Reviews
Five Stars (out of Five)
...David Greene's work surpasses the majority of Civil War novels by bringing together two enthralling love stories. In Unmentionables, Greene primarily focuses on the touching affinity between Jimmy, a black field worker, and Cato, an educated, half-white servant from a neighboring plantation. Cato also happens to be the illegitimate son of Augustus Askew, his owner. The passionate love between Jimmy and Cato is a fascinating, behind-the-scenes glimpse of gay romance in the 1800s.
Alongside this relationship is a complex romance between Dorothy Holland, an abolitionist, and William Askew, the legitimate son of Augustus and a Confederate. Dorothy’s parents own Jimmy, and she is friends with Cato, which puts her in the unfortunate position of balancing her ideals with her affection for her lover. Her relationship with William has some expected conflicts, such as loyalty to the Confederacy versus devotion to a soul mate, yet Greene keeps his portrayal of these characters fresh.
Any reader looking for a departure from the tradition of Gone with the Wind, will find this novel an excellent alternative. Unmentionables is superb historical fiction with a contemporary angle; an enlightening look at the hidden elements of our past.
--Julia Ann Charpentier (for ForeWord Clarion Reviews) Book available thru this site(adamfoxie) at Amazon
From ForeWord Clarion Reviews
Five Stars (out of Five)
...David Greene's work surpasses the majority of Civil War novels by bringing together two enthralling love stories. In Unmentionables, Greene primarily focuses on the touching affinity between Jimmy, a black field worker, and Cato, an educated, half-white servant from a neighboring plantation. Cato also happens to be the illegitimate son of Augustus Askew, his owner. The passionate love between Jimmy and Cato is a fascinating, behind-the-scenes glimpse of gay romance in the 1800s.
Alongside this relationship is a complex romance between Dorothy Holland, an abolitionist, and William Askew, the legitimate son of Augustus and a Confederate. Dorothy’s parents own Jimmy, and she is friends with Cato, which puts her in the unfortunate position of balancing her ideals with her affection for her lover. Her relationship with William has some expected conflicts, such as loyalty to the Confederacy versus devotion to a soul mate, yet Greene keeps his portrayal of these characters fresh.
Any reader looking for a departure from the tradition of Gone with the Wind, will find this novel an excellent alternative. Unmentionables is superb historical fiction with a contemporary angle; an enlightening look at the hidden elements of our past.
--Julia Ann Charpentier (for ForeWord Clarion Reviews) Book available thru this site(adamfoxie) at Amazon
This nobel is also recommended reading by adamfoxie blog
Comments