“Remembered” by Yvonne Battle-Felton

This book in based in Philadelphia in 1910; whilst it has a racial background, it is predominantly about family. Spring’s son Edward is in hospital, dying; her dead sister, Tempe haunts her. We read about their lives growing up, and Spring and Edward’s years in the city. Spring dedicates herself to telling her son of his family, as he lies critically ill.

Edward is in hospital as he was involved in an incident in which the streetcar he was driving went through a shop window. Whether or not this was intentional is the second strand of the storyline. There are strikes and demonstrations in the city, so there is a Union angle to these events, and Edward’s involvement or participation in them.

Spring is at home when she hears of the occurence in the city centre and of Edward’s apparent involvement. He has been beaten up by the predominantly white crowd; the police are naturally investigating and are intent on laying the blame on Edward.

Spring seemingly has never told her own life story, and family background to her son. Now, before it is too late, she uses a family scrapbook with newspaper cuttings to recount her history. Starting back in 1843 when a young girl is kidnapped and taken into slavery, as “new blood,” onto the Walker’s farm where no new babies are born. Here this novel comes into it’s own though some of the experiences are harsh reading, there is no attempt to hide the events. This part of the book is enhanced by some great characters, particularly the matriarch known as Mama Skins.

The chapters of the book are time-lined, so we know the hour of the day within the hospital; while the historical ones carry the year and are enhanced with some replications of newspaper headlines. A nice touch.

This is an unusual story which was well praised when it came out and was longlisted for last year’s Women’s Prize for Fiction. The historical detail is well recounted and authentic; not overly long it reads easily even if some of the subject matter is harrowing.