Darlene Dauphin

Emilie's Song Darlene Dauphin

Emilie's Song, set in New Orleans of the 1920's and 30's, chronicles the story of Sally Langlois, a beautiful young woman of color, widowed by WWI. A 'high yella' country girl makes a way for herself and two sons through hard work and good fortune despite the twin horrors of racism and sexism. Against the backdrop of Prohibition, the Depression and the Jazz Scene she reluctantly finds love again with the handsome Michael Tolliver, a well-educated northerner and former colored Army Officer undergoing a personal metamorphosis. He is immediately smitten with the lovely Ms. Langlois. As they discover their love and establish their lives together, tragedy strikes. Once more Sally faces the loss of someone important to her, this time with the added burden of another child, Emilie, a lovely and precocious little girl. Much of the story is told from the perspective of the children. Their interpretations of events and adult emotions provide a unique voice. The intense passions of a cast of distinctive characters are played against the panorama of one of the world's unique cities. All lovers of realistic romantic fiction will treasure this saga of ultimate triumph despite the barriers and taboos of the day.