Wench - Hardcover

"This elegantly-structured novel, Dolen Perkins-Valdez presents an engrossing subject, shedding much-needed light on the racial intricacies of America's past." -- Margaret Cezair-Thompson, author of The Pirate's Daughter (a #1 Indie Next Pick)

"A striking story of heart and mind, Wench, captures time and delivers it to us. A superb and outstanding achievement." -- Jeffrey Lent, author of In the Fall & A Peculiar Grace

"With Wench, Dolen Perkins-Valdez establishes herself as a remarkable storyteller. Through unforgettable characters and luscious prose, the past is able to breathe and live on these pages. Perkins-Valdez establishes herself as a powerful new voice in fiction." -- Tayari Jones, author of Leaving Atlanta and The Untelling

Dolen Perkins-Valdez s debut novel, "Wench", is outstanding: well crafted, imaginative, spellbinding, and above all satisfying. --World Literature Today

A mesmerizing read. --Seattle Times

Perkins-Valdez manages to shed a poetic light on one of the ugliest chapters in American history. --Essence

Readers entranced by "The Help" will be equally riveted by Wench. A deeply moving, beautifully written novel told from the heart. --USA Today

Absolutely phenomenal. . . . "Wench" is an excellent novel that will appeal to many readers. Debut author Dolen Perkins-Valdez has crafted a historical narrative that shouldn t be missed. --Sacramento Book Review

This elegantly-structured novel sheds much-needed light on the racial intricacies of America s past. --Margaret Cezair-Thompson, author of The Pirate's Daughter (a #1 Indie Next Pick)

Perkins-Valdez crawls under your skin and probes most gracefully in clear, concise lyric prose, ultimately asking the question that only extraordinary fiction can ask--what would you have done? A superb and outstanding achievement. --Jeffrey Lent, author of In the Fall and A Peculiar Grace

Slave mistresses Lizzie, Reenie and Sweet travel to a resort in Ohio each year with their white masters, until Mawu shows up and encourages the three others to escape, forcing them to choose between freedom and leaving their friends and families--and the emotional and psychological ties that bind them to their masters. A first novel. 25,000 first printing.