Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

Benjamin January is a colored man, a griffe. In his day, that meant he was 3/4 black, with a black father and a mulatto mother. His sister is a quadroon - 3/4 white. In New Orleans, pre-Civil War, that matters. Everything about race, and even about nationality, matters a lot. It defines who you are and what opportunities are open to you. Benjamin is a musician, but he also trained as a surgeon in Paris. He lived there with his wife for several years, but after her death, he returns to his hometown.

Much has changed since he has been gone. Suddenly the Americans are moving in. The British and French, which didn't much get along with each other but at least understood 'the custom of the country,' are being bought out by brash new Americans who only understand two things - money, and the color of your skin. Benjamin as a colored man cannot find work as a surgeon, only as a musician. He's playing the quadroon ball during Mardi Gras when one of the women is found murdered. He knows the owner of the hotel is not about to call in the police to investigate. After all, the woman is basically a courtesan, and the suspects are powerful and wealthy white men. But Benjamin is so sick of this kind of prejudice that he begins to ask questions himself. Next thing he knows, the police have been happy to investigate a much less tricky suspect - him.

I really enjoyed this book. Benjamin is a great character with a complicated background. Being away from home so much gives his a different perspective on things that the other characters take for granted. I realized that this was a time period I knew practically nothing about, but certainly a place I'd love to read about again. 5 stars.