Introduction:

Many of us are intrigued by the history of the Great Depression. We envision mobsters, speakeasies, hobos riding the rails, and families struggling to make ends meet. Then, in 1939, came the news of war in Europe when Germany invaded Poland, which struck fear into many hearts. No one who lived through that era will ever forget the live radio broadcast from President Roosevelt two years later that began with: “Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”

It is during this period of history that author Phyllis B. Olson sets her captivating novel, The Faded Blue House. Though a work of fiction, the story reads like a genuine account of a family living through the joys, sorrows, and adversities of the time. Phyllis’s words are stitched together with masterful skill and pure love. The Faded Blue House is a story that will stay in my heart for a long, long time.

Without further ado, let me introduce you to Phyllis…

My book started with the story of Joey and the kittens, a true story told to me.  It touched me and made me angry at the adult who would do such a thing.  Then I was told the true story of the child who was given away because there was not enough food for everyone.  I continued collecting and writing Depression stories, some my own, and decided I could turn them into a book that became The Faded Blue House.  It took me several years to assemble the stories into a novel.  I do believe fiction can deliver a more compelling history lesson than a text book or a lecture.

The Faded Blue House is not a memoir but much of it is based on what I saw and heard as a child during the Great Depression. The fictional town of Maxwell well represents the small southern town where I grew up. Hobos did come to our back door, and unemployed people were taken in by families. Health care was skimpy, and my siblings and I were delivered at home.  Few of us are left to tell these stories. I hope you will read my book, and I would love to hear from you.  Phyllis B. Olson  fadedbluehouse@gmail.com

Because The Faded Blue House has been so kindly received, I have written a sequel, On Adelphi Road, that continues the story of Phoebe Evans and her family after they move from their faded blue rental.  The new book will be published in 2025.

Here for your enjoyment is the synopsis of The Faded Blue House:

Phoebe marries at age nineteen and moves to town anticipating a lively social life. Instead, she quickly has three children, the Great Depression descends, and her husband disengages from the family. In the midst of the struggles, she and her widowed neighbor, Faith Anne, commit to helping those around them including a disowned pregnant teenager, a family beset by alcoholism and a family ruined by the Dust Bowl. An unethical neighbor creates a problem for eight-year-old Joey, a self-righteous church-woman adds discord, racism abounds and World War II looms. All the while, the voice of FDR calms troubled souls.

The Faded Blue House is an illuminating depiction of life in a small Southern town during the 1930s, including shortages, financial struggles, racial inequities and The New Deal. The story ends as The United States enters World War II. It is a story of faith, generosity, hope and joy during a notable time in history.