Lazaretto

"Vibrant. . . . Completely engaging. . . . A unique blend of poetic language and graphic depictions of the injustices suffered by African Americans in the post-Civil War period."-- Booklist (starred review) Diane McKinney-Whetstone's stunning historical novel, Lazaretto, begins in the chaotic back streets of post-Civil War Philadelphia as a young black woman, Meda, gives birth to a child fathered by her wealthy white employer. In a city riven by racial tension, the father's transgression is unforgivable. He arranges to take the baby, so it falls to Sylvia, the midwife's teenage apprentice, to tell Meda that her child is dead--a lie that will define the course of both women's lives. A devastated Meda dedicates herself to working in an orphanage and becomes a surrogate mother to two white boys; while Sylvia, fueled by her guilt, throws herself into her nursing studies and finds a post at the Lazaretto, the country's first quarantine hospital, situated near the Delaware River, just south of Philadelphia. The Lazaretto is a crucible of life and death; sick passengers and corpses are quarantined here, but this is also the place where immigrants take their first steps toward the American dream. The live-in staff are mostly black Philadelphians, and when two of them arrange to marry, the city's black community prepares for a party on its grounds. But the celebration is plunged into chaos when gunshots ring out across the river. As Sylvia races to save the victim, the fates of Meda's beloved orphans also converge on the Lazaretto. Here conflicts escalate, lies collapse, and secrets begin to surface. Like dead men rising, past sins cannot be contained.

About the Author :
Diane McKinney-Whetstone is the author of the critically acclaimed novels Our Gen, Tumbling, Lazaretto, Tempest Rising, Blues Dancing, Leaving Cecil Street, and Trading Dreams at Midnight. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Black Caucus of the American Library Association's Literary Award for Fiction, which she won twice. A past lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania, her work has appeared in the Atlantic, Essence Philadelphia magazine, and the Philadelphia Inquirer. She lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with her husband.

Review :
"[A] poignant, multigenerational story. . . . An achingly tender portrait of familial love and pain." - Booklist "A compelling story. . . . In evocative prose, she re-creates the world of 1940s and 1950s Philadelphia with passionate emotion in a moving novel of love, loss, redemption, and healing." - Ebony "McKinney-Whetstone weaves an intricate tapestry of love, pain and memory. . . . Philly is as much a character as the women. . . . Neena's dire straits are nicely handled and provide a pretty sharp hook." - Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Whetstone's novel explores a fictional crisis that begins in the neighborhood surrounding Philly's Lazaretto Hospital after the Civil War." - New York Post "Once again, McKinney-Whetstone has managed to bring to life a wide range of characters whose triumphs and tribulations would never show up in a history book." - BookPage "In this masterful work of historical fiction, Diane McKinney-Whetstone seamlessly transports us to Philadelphia in the aftermath of the Civil War and Lincoln's assassination, beautifully evoking powerful stories of love, friendship and humanity amid the vibrant black community that flourished amid the troubled times." - Largehearted Boy "Juggling a wide cast of characters, this book dives into family struggles, romance, Lincoln's assassination, and the racial tensions simmering in post-Civil War Philadelphia. Perfect for fans of history and complicated, rich, character-driven stories." - BookTrib.com "When it comes to creating living and breathing characters, no one can touch Diane McKinney-Whetstone. Her new novel Lazaretto is no exception.... I suggest reading Lazaretto at the dinner table, because it will leave you full as your favorite meal." - BuzzFeed Books "Language sings throughout the whole of McKinney-Whetstone's writing--from the lilt of her characters' colloquial speech to her poetic, visceral descriptions.... A sophisticated and compelling novel that comes alive through a rich cavalcade of vibrant characters and a suspenseful plot." - Kirkus Reviews "A perfect book for the end of the Obama era.... Incredibly daring.... McKinney-Whetstone's trademark poetic prose is still as sharp as it has always been...without sacrificing plot and pacing.... I couldn't be happier that McKinney-Whetstone has returned to show us all how it's done." - Washington Post "McKinney-Whetstone's trademark poetic prose is still as sharp as it has always been...without sacrificing plot and pacing.... I couldn't be happier that McKinney-Whetstone has returned to show us all how it's done." - Washington Post "TUMBLING is an accomplished novel, with sharply drawn characters, exuberant prose, plenty of period detail and a wise, forgiving outlook on family life." - Los Angeles Times Book Review "[McKinney-Whetstone] creates a unique, believable black middle-class world where there are no villains--just individuals trying their very best to get through life while inflicting minimum pain on each other, or themselves.... These people are flawed, human, engaging in the best sense." - Washington Post "Vibrant.... Completely engaging.... A unique blend of poetic language and graphic depictions of the injustices suffered by African Americans in the post-Civil War period." - Booklist (starred review) "As in any Diane McKinney-Whetstone novel, there is love in all of its many facets and dimensions. The author shows that good writing is like a fine bottle of wine-it just gets better with time." - Essence