Denise Harris

In Remembrance of Her Denise Harris

At the heart of this gothic, richly poetic novel is a relationship between a servant, Blanche Steadman, and the family of her master, a powerful Guyanese judge. As the book progresses toward an emotional revelation, a cast of unforgettable characters is introduced-including Disguile, with his dreams of a new empire ruled by Black men; the cross-dressing Baby-Boy, with his face painted white, and the mysterious Irene Gittings, the market woman who befriends Blanche. At question in their relationships is whether happiness is possible in a divided nation, in a Guyanese society that shuts its eyes and ears to past and present suffering.