The Kitchen House (2010) (edit title/settings)

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Summary edit see section history

Characters/People edit see section history

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• Lavinia, aka "Abinia": Main character and narrator. A 6 or 7-year old female from Ireland who grows up throughout the novel. She's referred to as Abinia, Vinny, and Binny throughout the novel.
• James Pyke, the captain: Master of Pyke plantation where this story takes place. A ship captain who spends a lot of time away from home. Husband to Martha. Father to Marshall, and Sally. Also fathered Belle, but his family does not know this.
• Mrs. Pyke (Miss Martha): The captain's' wife. Mother to Marshall and Sally. Willowy and tall; quiet and subdued. When Mr. Pyke is away, she spends most of her time in bed in a drugged opium state.
• Jacob: One of Pyke's slaves. Kind, old man, works in "The Big House" at the Tall Oaks Tobacco Plantation. He's referred to as Uncle Jacob.
• Belle: One of the book's narrators. Young, black woman who works in the kitchen house. Daughter of Captain Pyke. Her mother was one of Pyke's slaves, who died. Mama Mae and George act as her parents.
• Marshall Pyke: Oldest son of Captain James Pyke and Martha Pyke, brother of Sally. Lives in the Big House at the Tall Oaks Tobacco Plantation.
• Sally Pyke: Daughter of Captain James Pyke and Martha Pyke, sister to Marshall. Lives in the Big House at the Tall Oaks Tobacco Plantation.
• Dory: Young slave mother. Daughter to Papa George and Mama Mae. Sister to Ben, older sister to Fanny and Beattie.
• Henry: Dory's baby.
• Mama Mae: One of Pyke's slaves. Mother to Dory, Ben, Beattie, and Fanny. Wife of Papa George. Adoptive mother to Belle.
• Papa George: Daddy to Dory, Ben, Beattie, and Fanny. Husband to Mama Mae.
• Fanny: One of Pyke's slaves. Beattie's twin, Mama Mae and Papa George's daughter. Younger sister to Dory and Ben.
• Beattie: One of Pyke's slaves. Fanny's twin, Mama Mae and Papa George's daughter. Younger sister to Dory and Ben.
• Ben: One of Pyke's slaves. Son of Papa George and Mama Mae. Brother to Dory, Fanny, and Beattie.
• Meg: Sally and Marshall's cousin. Walks with slight limp, wears glasses. Lives in Williamsburg with her parents. Studies botony. Befriends Lavinia.
• Sara: Sister of Martha Pyke. Mother to Meg.
• Jimmy: One of Pyke's slaves who works in the fields. He's in love with Dory, and fathered baby Henry.
• Ida: One of Pyke's slaves. Jimmy's mother.
• Rankin: Overseer of the slaves in the quarter. Disliked by the slaves. Drunk most of the time. An evil and nasty man.
• Mr. Waters: Marshall's tutor.
• Campbell: Captain and Martha's last baby.
• Sukey: Dory's baby girl.
• Will Stevens: Family rents land from the Pyke's. Good, hard-working, honest man.
• Lucy: One of Pyke's slaves. Works in the quarters.
• Jamie: Belle's son.
• Elly Pyke: Little girl.

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Williamsburg, Virginia
• Philadelphia
• Tall Oaks: Plantation where the Pyke family and their slaves live.
• Ireland

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Glossary edit see section history

• vasculum: a collecting box for plants, typically in the form of a flattened cylindrical metal case with a lengthwise opening, carried by a shoulder strap

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

• Insanity: Describe this theme.
• Drug addiction
• Family secrets
• Rape
• Racism and Slavery
• Violence Against Women

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Kathleen Grissom (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
• Dewey: 813

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Literature & Fiction › Genre Fiction › Historical
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Literary
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Contemporary

More Books Like This edit see section history