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A Novel
by Kyra Davis Lurie
In this poignant retelling of The Great Gatsby, set amongst L.A.'s Black elite, a young veteran finds his way post-war, pulled into a new world of tantalizing possibilities—and explosive tensions.
In 1945, Charlie Trammell steps off a cross-country train into the vibrant tapestry of Los Angeles. Lured by his cousin Marguerite's invitation to the esteemed West Adams Heights, Charlie is immediately captivated by the Black opulence of L.A.'s newly rechristened "Sugar Hill."
Settling in at a local actress's energetic boarding house, Charlie discovers a different way of life—one brimming with opportunity—from a promising career at a Black-owned insurance firm, the absence of Jim Crow, to the potential of an unforgettable romance. But nothing dazzles quite like James "Reaper" Mann.
Reaper's extravagant parties, attended by luminaries like Lena Horne and Hattie McDaniel, draw Charlie in, bringing the milieu of wealth and excess within his reach. But as Charlie's unusual bond with Reaper deepens, so does the tension in the neighborhood as white neighbors, frustrated by their own dwindling fortunes, ignite a landmark court case that threatens the community's well-being with promises of retribution.
Told from the unique perspective of a young man who has just returned from a grueling, segregated war, The Great Mann weaves a compelling narrative of wealth and class, illuminating the complexities of Black identity and education in post-war America.
"Lurie's nuanced and sympathetic characters and stellar writing are nearly as brilliant as in Gatsby. Historical figures such as actress Hattie McDaniel and singer Lena Horne also make appearances that contextualize their fight against racism. Literary historical fiction that will appeal to a wide audience. Lurie is a writer to watch." —Library Journal (starred review)
"Davis Lurie has pulled off a masterpiece in this profound and deeply human retelling of a time and place in 1940s Los Angeles where the Black elite explored life, love, art, and identity." —Julia Heaberlin, internationally bestselling author of Night Will Find You
"The Great Mann is wildly original and energetic, crammed with characters who stand out fully formed and memorable on their own. And at the same enthralling time, it exposes us to an overlooked piece of American history." —Howard Blum, New York Times bestselling author of When the Night Comes Falling, Dark Invasion, and The Last Goodnight
This information about The Great Mann was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Kyra Davis Lurie is a New York Times bestselling author and screenwriter. Her novels have been published in nine languages across six continents. Kyra was born and raised in California and lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their utterly perfect dog, Potus.
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