Black Orchids

When the genteely impoverished and rebellious Evelyn marries the charming Emil, scion of a privileged Sinhalese family, she thinks that her dream of a life in England can now at last come true. So the family travel, with their young son Milton, from Ceylon to Tilbury Docks. But this is England in the 1950s and, no matter how hard Evelyn wishes that it would, England does not take kindly to strangers, especially families who are half black and half white.

A profound and moving novel, this is the story about the search to feel at home in your own skin.

“** 'This tale, spanning two countries and two generations, is wrenchingly beautiful, and Slovo is a master of manipulation - so much so that the reader ends up feeling as betrayed as the characters-- Clare Longrigg, PSYCHOLOGIES”

Evelyn, Emil and the children, particularly the boy, Milton, endure a great deal of Englishness, the effortless and understated nastiness that Slovo captures superbly. What we end with is a novel about exile, about homelessness, about identity and loss. These are strong, poignant themes - The Australian

Slovo convincingly relays the sense of otherness - Sun Herald

Black Orchids invokes cross-racial tensions and connections subtely woven into a story that leaves the reader with a startling awareness of a time when individuals pushed back at pressures and toplled the system. A five-star novel - Australian Country Style

'It's a compelling book, a thoughtful and beautifully written journey to an exotic time and place.' - Sydney Sunday Telegraph

Born in South Africa, Gillian Slovo has written nine novels, one of which, Red Dust has been filmed with Hilary Swank and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Her first play, Guantanamo, played in London's West End and off-Broadway in New York. ICE ROAD was shortlisted for the Orange Prize.

When the genteely impoverished and rebellious Evelyn marries the charming Emil, scion of a privileged Sinhalese family, she thinks that her dream of a life in England can now at last come true. So the family travel, with their young son Milton, from Ceylon to Tilbury Docks. But this is England in the 1950s and, no matter how hard Evelyn wishes that it would, England does not take kindly to strangers, especially families who are half black and half white.A profound and moving novel, this is the story about the search to feel at home in your own skin.

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