In the 1900’s the United States was a very different place. Krystal Marquis in her book, The Davenports, brings insight into what it was like to live having had success as a black individual in society at that time, from the viewpoint of a young woman. Readers are introduced to four young women, all with their own personalities, characteristics and expectations out of life. While life was better for these women, because of the money their family had, it was still hard and for only one reason: because they had a different color to their skin. Having made their wealth from the hard work and determination of their parents who created a luxurious horse drawn carriage that became the most sought after in the world, The Davenport girls now live in a world where most of the faces are unlike their own. How will they survive? Can they achieve their dreams in a world where they do not feel fully part of?
There is Olivia, who dreams of the dresses she will buy for all the many ball’s she will attend. And, she hopes that at one of those dances, she will meet the man she will marry one day. Of course, that is a hard task, to find an educated, rich, eligible gentleman, from the right family….who is also black. One day, returning to the Davenport home after a shopping trip with her best friend Ruby she meets Mr. Jacob Lawrence, a handsome, successful, unattached, black man from London. Like her parents (who fit perfectly together), Olivia wants to make the right match and thinks Mr. Lawrence would fit the bill. Will Mr. Jacob Lawrence be the right man for Olivia? And, will it be Olivia, and not another, he ends up with? Will Mr. Jacob Lawrence returns Olivia’s affections?
Helen, the younger Davenport girl, is more at home while working within the family business. But, instead of working on horse drawn carriages, Helen is branching out into the future, and working on Ford Model T’s and other automobiles with her brothers. She is determined to convince her father to transition the family business from horse drawn carriages to automobiles, where Helen believes success and the future lie. However, Mr. Davenport will not even entertain the notion to repair automobiles in their shop. What will happen to the Davenports if Helen cannot convince her father the automobile is the future, for the world and their family? And, what will happen to Helen, and her future, if she is unable to act like a “proper” lady of the period, like her sister Olivia? Will Helen end up like her sister or will she be able to be herself? `
Amy-Rose came to the Davenport house, Freeport Manor, with her mother, Clara Shepard, who was a maid in the home. The Davenport family was the only that would take a maid in with a child and the only that would keep a child after the mother dies, as Amy-Rose’s mother did three years ago. While her mother was alive Amy-Rose was able to play with the sisters, share her dreams with them, have tea parties, all while her mother took care of the Davenport home. Three years later Amy-Rose was able to stay in a position much like a personal maid to the young Davenport sisters and their friend. But, while the Davenport sisters may get married and leave their home, Amy-Rose has other dreams. One of them includes the eldest Davenport son, John who she very much likes. And, though she has been treated, at times, like a member of the family, will the Davenports let a maid’s daughter marry their eldest son? Especially when there is another girl vying for his heart?
That girl is Ruby Tremaine, a friend of Olivia Davenport. She has high hopes of marrying the eldest brother of the family, John, though they have only shared one slightly romantic moment. Ruby’s father hopes to be the first black mayor of Chicago, the Tremaine family, recently having to tighten their purse strings so that he can run. With her parents pushing her to get John to propose, Ruby is doing all she can to win the heart of the eldest Davenport boy. But, will Ruby be able to save the family from demise? How can she get John to marry her?
The Davenports is a book that revolves around the minds and hearts of four black girls, on their way to being women, as they face the world around them, a world where, while they may feel and be very out of place, they are very much a part of. And, progress, not just for black women, but all black people, hangs on their shoulders, as they navigate to acquire what is expected of them by their families, by all those around them. Will Olivia get the marriage she desires? Will Helen be able to transition the family business into the future? Will Amy-Rose be able to get all she dreams of? And will Ruby Tremaine be able to save her family, be able to stand tall with all the pressure she feels from her parents to marry John Davenport, who, for the most part, doesn't seem to notice her? Readers won’t want to miss this tremendously entertaining historical portrayal of young women vying for their place in the world and the pressures on them to attain it.
Happy Reading!
There is Olivia, who dreams of the dresses she will buy for all the many ball’s she will attend. And, she hopes that at one of those dances, she will meet the man she will marry one day. Of course, that is a hard task, to find an educated, rich, eligible gentleman, from the right family….who is also black. One day, returning to the Davenport home after a shopping trip with her best friend Ruby she meets Mr. Jacob Lawrence, a handsome, successful, unattached, black man from London. Like her parents (who fit perfectly together), Olivia wants to make the right match and thinks Mr. Lawrence would fit the bill. Will Mr. Jacob Lawrence be the right man for Olivia? And, will it be Olivia, and not another, he ends up with? Will Mr. Jacob Lawrence returns Olivia’s affections?
Helen, the younger Davenport girl, is more at home while working within the family business. But, instead of working on horse drawn carriages, Helen is branching out into the future, and working on Ford Model T’s and other automobiles with her brothers. She is determined to convince her father to transition the family business from horse drawn carriages to automobiles, where Helen believes success and the future lie. However, Mr. Davenport will not even entertain the notion to repair automobiles in their shop. What will happen to the Davenports if Helen cannot convince her father the automobile is the future, for the world and their family? And, what will happen to Helen, and her future, if she is unable to act like a “proper” lady of the period, like her sister Olivia? Will Helen end up like her sister or will she be able to be herself? `
Amy-Rose came to the Davenport house, Freeport Manor, with her mother, Clara Shepard, who was a maid in the home. The Davenport family was the only that would take a maid in with a child and the only that would keep a child after the mother dies, as Amy-Rose’s mother did three years ago. While her mother was alive Amy-Rose was able to play with the sisters, share her dreams with them, have tea parties, all while her mother took care of the Davenport home. Three years later Amy-Rose was able to stay in a position much like a personal maid to the young Davenport sisters and their friend. But, while the Davenport sisters may get married and leave their home, Amy-Rose has other dreams. One of them includes the eldest Davenport son, John who she very much likes. And, though she has been treated, at times, like a member of the family, will the Davenports let a maid’s daughter marry their eldest son? Especially when there is another girl vying for his heart?
That girl is Ruby Tremaine, a friend of Olivia Davenport. She has high hopes of marrying the eldest brother of the family, John, though they have only shared one slightly romantic moment. Ruby’s father hopes to be the first black mayor of Chicago, the Tremaine family, recently having to tighten their purse strings so that he can run. With her parents pushing her to get John to propose, Ruby is doing all she can to win the heart of the eldest Davenport boy. But, will Ruby be able to save the family from demise? How can she get John to marry her?
The Davenports is a book that revolves around the minds and hearts of four black girls, on their way to being women, as they face the world around them, a world where, while they may feel and be very out of place, they are very much a part of. And, progress, not just for black women, but all black people, hangs on their shoulders, as they navigate to acquire what is expected of them by their families, by all those around them. Will Olivia get the marriage she desires? Will Helen be able to transition the family business into the future? Will Amy-Rose be able to get all she dreams of? And will Ruby Tremaine be able to save her family, be able to stand tall with all the pressure she feels from her parents to marry John Davenport, who, for the most part, doesn't seem to notice her? Readers won’t want to miss this tremendously entertaining historical portrayal of young women vying for their place in the world and the pressures on them to attain it.
Happy Reading!