The Letters - by Sheila White (Paperback)

About the Book

The Letters: Postmark Prejudice in Black and White is a biographical novel that chronicles the controversial courtship and marriage of the author's white mother and Black father in Canada immediately following the Second World War.

Book Synopsis

Vivian Keeler is an intelligent, attractive and determined white woman from a traditional Nova Scotia family who risks it all by falling in love with a Black man. Billy White is a charismatic and gifted member of a prominent Black family; he's the brother of celebrated classical singer Portia White and the son of a renowned Black minister who garnered fame as an officer during the First World War. Vivian and Billy meet at a lunch counter in Halifax. During the next several months their casual friendship blossoms into romance. But the courtship that follows unleashes a torrent of racist rants that expose the pervasive bigotry of the late 1940s. The Letters: Postmark Prejudice in Black and White chronicles a passion that transcends deeply rooted taboos and sparks an orchestrated campaign to persuade Vivian "not to marry outside her race." As the pressure mounts, Vivian and Billy find strength in their shared affection. But will it be enough to overcome their own doubts about the viability of a future together?

Review Quotes

"A must read. Sheila has brilliantly woven a beautiful tapestry of the letters, historical fact and fiction in her parents' love story."

"The Letters: Postmark Prejudice in Black and White is a fascinating read, particularly for those who don't recognize the contributions of people like Sheila White's parents to a more egalitarian society today."