First published 2002
On a remote Caribbean estate, Valerian Street—a retired candy manufacturer—lives with his wife Margaret, surrounded by tropical luxury. Their household hinges on Jadine Childs, a sophisticated Black model who works as their servant, and Sydney and Ondine, the Black couple who manage their home. When Son, a fugitive Black man, crashes into their carefully constructed world, everything begins to unravel. He challenges Jadine's sense of identity, threatens Valerian's controlled environment, and exposes the complex racial and power dynamics simmering just beneath the surface. As tensions escalate, each character is forced to confront their deepest assumptions about race, class, belonging, and self-determination. Morrison transforms a seemingly simple domestic scenario into a profound exploration of cultural collision and personal reckoning.
Genres: fiction, african-american, contemporary, african-american-historical-fiction
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: cultural-clash, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Ohio
Period: 1940s
309 pages · Paperback · Vintage Books USA
Content warnings: racism