At Lit Hub she tagged five novels to read if you’re fascinated by the Black bourgeoisie. One entry on the list:
Rob Franklin, Great Black HopeRead about another novel on the list.
Franklin’s own debut novel, following a privileged Black youth experiencing a spectacular fall from grace, is partially set in the classy climes. Our protagonist Smith’s father is the one-time president of an Atlanta HBCU. And after a troubling tango with the law, our hero is forced to confront the heft of that legacy—even as he leans on its spoils.
This novel does a fine job bringing an under-seen family into the unforgiving spotlight. Franklin’s fond but firm on the family’s intricate contradictions.
--Marshal Zeringue