The Kitchen House: A Novel

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(as of Jul 25, 2025 14:59:30 UTC – Details)


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.
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Atria Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 2, 2010
Edition ‏ : ‎ First Edition
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1439153663
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1439153666
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 1 x 8 inches
Book 1 of 2 ‏ : ‎ Kitchen House
Best Sellers Rank: #9,048 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #90 in Coming of Age Fiction (Books) #100 in Family Saga Fiction #482 in Literary Fiction (Books)
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