In the Shadow of the Peacock

by Grace Edwards-Yearwood

Three Black women find the strength to deal with racism, poverty, and tragedy while living in Harlem during the explosive period of time between the 1940s and the 1960s.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

279 pages, Hardcover

First published December 27, 1988

Reviews

[Sarah Booth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wrote a review of Edwards books for my local neighborhood magazine. You can find it at
NAIABrooklyn.org


Transport yourself back to Harlem in 1961. Survival is nothing easy and EOE isn’t a thing yet. Enter the lives of three women and the men in their lives and their struggles, living nightmares and heartbreaks.
A powerful insight into the African American experience that will leave you feeling a bit like you’ve been there for just a moment, long enough to see clearly why we do NOT ever want to move backwards to those times again. Our main character Celia grows up and becomes an independent spirit in this story through some difficult experiences and some false starts until she finds herself and forces those around her to see who she can be as she learns to break free from those, even those well meaning, who would hold her back from her potential.

[Daniel Shindler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace Edwards is an under appreciated author who passed away earlier this year. She was a pioneer in the creation of African American heroines featured in mysteries. This book, her first, departs from her later works. It is a coming of age story of a young lady spanning the years 1943 through 1965. The book is set in Harlem, NY and follows the development of Celia. Celia was born on the night of the infamous Harlem riot in 1943, an event that traumatized her mother Frieda and caused the death of Celia’s father. The book chronicles the consequences of this traumatic event throughout Celia’s formative years. The narrative plays off of The Peacock, a neighborhood bar that provides refuge to the residents of the area. We learn of the events of the struggle for equality and civil rights through the eyes of the neighborhood against a backdrop of music, gossip and everyday goings on.This book presents a rich tapestry of a community and a bygone era that is unforgettable.

[Denise Billings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edwards' prologue comes in like gangbusters. Opening on the heart-pounding fire scene that pulled me right in. She says so much on each page including authentic of-the-era dialogue. And hot as fire sex. It's a coming of age story of over-protected Celia, who despite her mother's best efforts finds two deep, exquisite loves in 1940-1960s Harlem. Celia's mother could not derail Celia's unlikely friendship with Tessa either. Tessa lives in the same building, where the neon lights of the Peacock lounge shine through their windows every night.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!!

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book was an interesting read and it was interesting to see the growth of the main character - Celia. I believe there is a little piece of her in everyone of us. I will say I was extremely disappointed with the end of the book but overall the author truly gave food for thought... Ill leave you with a quote:

"...a lot of these men... are like peacocks -- either you function in their shadow or you don't function at all..."

a loaded statement with some truth behind it.