House of Shades

More about the book

Amid the vibrant backdrop of Victorian London, the narrative follows an ambitious young Black actress who rises to fame as "The Great Amazonia, a savage African queen." Despite her success, she grapples with the challenges of her upbringing as an orphan from the slums and the precarious nature of her stardom, which hinges on concealing her true identity. The story explores themes of ambition, identity, and the complexities of race in a historical context.