The Gilded Years

A Novel

By: Karin Tanabe

Narrated by: Janina Edwards

Passing meets The House of Mirth in this “utterly captivating” (Kathleen Grissom, New York Times bestselling author of The Kitchen House) historical novel based on the true story of Anita Hemmings, the first black student to attend Vassar, who successfully passed as white—until she let herself grow too attached to the wrong person.

Since childhood, Anita Hemmings has longed to attend the country’s most exclusive school for women, Vassar College. Now, a bright, beautiful senior in the class of 1897, she is hiding a secret that would have banned her from admission: Anita is the only African-American student ever to attend Vassar. With her olive complexion and dark hair, this daughter of a janitor and descendant of slaves has successfully passed as white, but now finds herself rooming with Louise “Lottie” Taylor, the scion of one of New York’s most prominent families.

Though Anita has kept herself at a distance from her classmates, Lottie’s sphere of influence is inescapable, her energy irresistible, and the two become fast friends. Pulled into her elite world, Anita learns what it’s like to be treated as a wealthy, educated white woman—the person everyone believes her to be—and even finds herself in a heady romance with a moneyed Harvard student. It’s only when Lottie becomes infatuated with Anita’s brother, Frederick, whose skin is almost as light as his sister’s, that the situation becomes particularly perilous. And as Anita’s college graduation looms, those closest to her will be the ones to dangerously threaten her secret.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of the Gilded Age, an era when old money traditions collided with modern ideas, Tanabe has written an unputdownable and emotionally compelling story of hope, sacrifice, and betrayal—and a gripping account of how one woman dared to risk everything for the chance at a better life.

Riveting!

Karin Tanabe has deftly conjured an experience so real I felt I was walking the Vassar campus just steps away from Anita Hemmings and her friends. With each chapter I felt the anxiety of discovery grow making this seemingly thought provoking piece of historical fiction become a page turner worthy of an all-nighter. An exceptional read for anyone who has held a secret of one’s own and for everyone who has known a person who is much more than first meets the eye.

Enjoyed story

Narration wasn't the greatest but enjoyed the story and would recommend if you enjoy historical fiction.

When we know, we can do better.

This was a rich book to discuss at book club. I’m so glad I had the chance to read it. The denial of education of women, and specifically women/people of color, was not something I had thought about much. Graduating high school myself 100 years after the main characters did, makes me grateful for a privilege that I didn’t fully understand I had. This information was denied to me until now and will not only be discussed in book club, but also with my kids.

We can only do better by learning about our past and correcting the actions of generations before us. Learning about our history helps us live and act in a way which is best for our society as a whole.

Great story, poor narrator performance

Loved the story but the narrator performance was like nails on a chalkboard. Sounded like AI with horrible cadence.

Good historical fiction but narration a serious distraction.

I wish I had read rather than listened to this book. While the story was well-written, the voices and intonations given to the characters were cartoonish, and the mispronunciation of "Massachusetts" throughout the narration was jarring and really distracting.