The Grandissimes - Hardcover

by George Washington Cable (Author), Mint Editions (Contribution by)

A prosperous New Orleans family, led by Honoré Grandissime, is faced with a moral and financial dilemma that could threaten the livelihood of future generations. The old guard is confronted by new thinkers, opposing their way of life and actively seeking change.

Honoré Grandissime is the patriarch of a French Creole family consisting of a half-brother, who is mixed race, and an uncle who is white. When a young man named Joseph Frowenfeld visits the Grandissimes, his abolitionist views cause friction among the elders. The uncle sees slavery as a necessity that allows them to maintain a comfortable lifestyle. In the heightened political climate, this conflict forces personal relationships and alliances to come to ahead.

The Grandissimes: A Story of Creole Life gives an authentic look at the complex history of the American South. It highlights the insidiousness of the caste system and its impact on mixed-race families. The author details its destructive nature and lasting impact.

With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Grandissimes: A Story of Creole Life is both modern and readable.

Back Jacket

The Grandissimes: A Story of Creole Life is the first novel from George Washington Cable. It follows a New Orleans family, of French Creole descent, as they navigate the racial and social politics of the nineteenth century. Published in 1880, it's a brutally honest portrait of the controversial caste system.