Provenance: A Novel

Hank Whitaker has built a substantial business, worthy of the pride of his family, wife Maggie, and young son Lance. It is only Hank's mother-in-law, Charlotte who does not think Hank is "not our kind." Little does she know that Hank is passing for white, and the whole charade tears him apart with worry that someone will find out. It is not until Hank is struck by a car leaving him in the hospital on his death-bed that makes him confess it all to Maggie and son Lance. Charlotte, of course said she knew it all along, and she has Hank buried in an unmarked grave in the colored cemetery.And it is Charlotte who sells the family houses, and quickly moves Maggie and Lance to France, changing their last name in the process. Lance is still a young man with a little too much money and no drive to do anything other than take up with an older woman, Belle. It is Belle who teaches him the value of artworks, preparing him to become an art dealer.After many years in France, Lance has become fluent in French, and learns the value of artwork with the help of Walter Chrysler who teaches Lance how to bargain for art, and enhance his own collection.After Maggie kills herself and Charlotte keeps the death secret, Lance continues to live in France, not knowing how Charlotte has lied through letters she has sent to Lance using Maggie's name.There are too many secrets in this novel and Charlotte holds onto most of them. Lance promised Charlotte that he would provide for her for the rest of her life. When he learned of Charlotte's deceit, Lance decided he was through with her lies, but continued to provide a staff and companionship for his grandmother. As it turns out, it was a young lady who migrated from London, Emma, who became Charlotte's best companion.I have family members who "passed for white," and I never thought it was a big deal. Those who moved away from the South to Chicago and other points North, managed to live a good life, but I always imagined that the secret life tore their family relationships apart.

Gripping and heartwarming historical fiction set in the midst of our country’s time of racial terrorism and legally sanctioned sexism. This book will make you feel for the characters who are living the consequences of their circumstances and their choices.Without being a spoiler I have to say I didn’t give this 5 stars because I felt the ending did not tie up lose ends that needed to be tied up. There’s a matter of a death bed wish never fulfilled and a never resolved love story. I realize that’s how life can be. But when reading for pleasure I sometimes want to escape reality where all too often things don’t end up the way we wish they would. Overall a very enjoyable read.

Donna Drew Sawyer’s novel Provenance provides lots of suspenseful drama, loving moments, enchanted dreams, deceptions at all levels and most importantly warm feelings with many surprises.She provided detailed writing of the characters, their backgrounds and along with her use of southern colloquial language, draws the reader into deeply knowing the characters.The novel's central theme is about racial identity, however, as the story weaves through a period of American History interspersed with historical people covering two continents, these issues are the foundation and backdrop for and incredible novel.The writer had me hooked within the first few pages until the end, and I thoroughly enjoyed every page. I’m glad I found this great novel and look forward to more of her writings.

This book was very emotive. It took considerable effort on the part of the reader to persevere. So caught up in the anticipation and anxiety of being exposed, that it was difficult to read. The insecurity experienced by Hank was palpable and the fact that after Bella's demise, Lance never found another soul with whom he could impart the secret almost unbearable (from the reader's perspective). A really good book from the perspective of the "passer".

This story pulled me in and I found myself surprised that as the narrator changed to other characters in the book, that I was still drawn in to the lives of each character. This story was masterfully told and touching on topics of the Jim Croe era and difficult decisions one makes when thinking about survival and choosing to pass as white or facing segregation. Amazing read!

I was enjoying the book. It gave me another perspective on why people who are of fair complexion choose to pass for white and the fears an anxiety of being found out. I had a biased opinion that they all were ashamed of their heritage or thought they were better than their darker complexioned African Americans. I enjoyed the book until the ending which left me very much feeling like there should have been more

This book won the 2017 Novel Book Awards Contest from the Maryland Writers' Association.It was hard to put down. The major characters are complex and well drawn. The plot keptme engaged as it explored the perilous path of those who pass for white.

This was a touching and moving novel. The kind of modern literary fiction I appreciate. I loved that it covered continents as well as decades. It held my attention and there were moments when I wanted to hate it. But these stories about 'passing' in order to better one's self in United States society are very true. We just don't have the whole story like we do here.And this is the whole story.Some people were upset with the ending. I thought "Hum, how interesting." It is an ending that has probably happened more than once in real life.