The Kitchen House: A Novel

Kathleen Grissom

Sep 2017 · Simon and Schuster · Narrated by Orlagh Cassidy and Bahni Turpin

About this audiobook

Kathleen Grissom, New York Times bestselling author of the highly anticipated Glory Over Everything, established herself as a remarkable new talent with The Kitchen House, now a contemporary classic. In this gripping novel, a dark secret threatens to expose the best and worst in everyone tied to the estate at a thriving plantation in Virginia in the decades before the Civil War.

Orphaned during her passage from Ireland, young, white Lavinia arrives on the steps of the kitchen house and is placed, as an indentured servant, under the care of Belle, the master’s illegitimate slave daughter. Lavinia learns to cook, clean, and serve food, while guided by the quiet strength and love of her new family.

In time, Lavinia is accepted into the world of the big house, caring for the master’s opium-addicted wife and befriending his dangerous yet protective son. She attempts to straddle the worlds of the kitchen and big house, but her skin color will forever set her apart from Belle and the other slaves.

Through the unique eyes of Lavinia and Belle, Grissom’s debut novel unfolds in a heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful story of class, race, dignity, deep-buried secrets, and familial bonds.

Ratings and reviews

Although deeply disturbing this seems to be an accurate fictional depiction of what the lives of slaves and indentured servants might have been in the late 17 to early 1800's. Seen through the eyes of first a little girl, indentured after her parents died crossing the ocean from Ireland to America, and then as she grows into young womanhood. Emotional and heart breaking we see the profound goodness and faith of the African people forced into bondage as well as a pitifully small amount of American people,and the cruel evil of some men and women who owned these proud terrorized people. I was continually shocked at how these people even survived one day of the conditions they were in but then remembered the words of Mama..."we pray to the Lord everyday to say thank you Lord for your blessings and Lord please help us we sure do need your help" A book I will never forget.

Loved it!

It was wonderful I read all day

About the author

Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Kathleen Grissom is now happily rooted in south-side Virginia. She is the New York Times bestselling author of The Kitchen House, Glory Over Everything, and Crow Mary. Find out more at KathleenGrissom.com.