At What Cost, Silence? is a historical novel about a young man grappling with questions of integrity and masculinity.
At the age of fourteen he suffers abuse of which he dares not speak. The cost of his silence is partially revealed by his inner pain, vacillation, and impulsive grasps at love throughout the ensuing years.
In this nineteenth century Washington County, Texas, society strict rules of belief and behavior are clear.
Public opinion can shape an entire life. Centerstage is the Villere family, whose tragedy is less brutal than the Harts but is no less devisive. Often absent Papa Paien Villere remains silent regarding several facts he has withheld from everyone, including one which could destroy his entire family.
Adrien Villere, his unconventional sister Bernadette, and slave brother Isaac struggle for respect and a future among the dark secrets and unbridled passions of both East Texas plantation dynasties.
How can we trust when there are secrets? When the people we should be able to trust most fail us? When we must remain silent about who we truly are? I discuss this theme and how it relates to me personally in another article.
More on the background of this novel can be found in my blog which will continually grow:
- Why I wrote At What Cost, Silence?
- Additional period information and characters will soon be available.
- Information about Washington County where the novel takes place will soon be available.
- Research can be found at several blogs; this one about Austin’s Old Three Hundred is the first.
“‘At What Cost, Silence?’ is a family saga that transforms the way we see the past, turning over little-known stones of history by focusing on the antebellum world of East Texas. This is both an epic novel spanning decades of history, culture and politics, and an intimate, passionate tale of love and morality, rooted deeply in the contradictions and complexities of its many characters. Klink has captured it all with great care and compassion and understanding.”
Molly Gloss, author of “The Hearts of Horses”
Karen Lynne Klink, Author
Now available for pre-order