The Kitchen House: A Novel

Kathleen Grissom

Feb 2010 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this eBook

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

The Kitchen House is a powerful and moving novel that offers a heartbreaking glimpse into the lives of enslaved people in colonial Virginia. Grissom's vivid descriptions and well-developed characters create a truly immersive reading experience

This might not be earth-shattering literature, but it's a lot of fun & such a page turner. The author is brave to tackle such a tough subject & she does a respectable job. Recommended!

One of my favorite books!! I love southern fiction and this book does not disappoint. The story takes place on a plantation and tells the tale of two very different families, the Master and Missus living in the Big House, and the other family born into a life of slavery, working in the Kitchen House, and trying desperately to stay together. Strength, determination, and love are free but life in the Kitchen House is anything but. Heart wrenching and powerful, this is southern fiction gold!

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.