The Keepers of the House

By Shirley Ann Grau

This novel won the Pulitzer Prize for 1965.

The Howlands have lived and prospered in central Alabama since the early days of the 1800s. The first William Howland settled there and built his home. He was killed by Indians but his sons carried on after him. Eventually the Howlands ended up owning a lot of valuable land in the county and became one of the the wealthiest families in the area. As their fortunes grew so did their house.
Despite their prominence, the Howlands were not particularly well liked. The locals considered them a bit peculiar. The Howlands didn't flaunt their wealth and perhaps their neighbors didn't really understand just how much of the local economy depended on the well being of the Howland family's current representative, Abigail. But they are about to find out, because, in the words of Abigail at the start of the story, "I shall destroy as much as I have lost."
Abigail's grandfather, William, acquired a housekeeper after his wife died. The housekeeper, a mixed-race black woman named Margaret, became his mistress. Margaret and William had three children, Robert, Nina and Crissy. The eldest, Robert, is the same age as William's only grandchild, Abigail, who lives there also. All three of Margaret's kids look white and all three are sent away to school up north to give them the chance to live as white people. It is what their mother wanted for them. But being sent away like that causes some angry and hard feelings among the children.
Abigail grows up and marries John Tolliver, an ambitious man who wants a career in politics. He sees Abigail's wealth and prominence as a stepping stone to his career, although she does not believe this, despite her grandfather's warning. Tolliver is a bigot and a racist, or at least this is how he presents himself, because he knows that it is what will appeal to the racist and bigoted voters of the Alabama of that time (1950s-60s). He joins the KKK and the White Citizens Council. He is a smart politician and is zeroing in on the governorship when the family secret is leaked to the press by an angry and vengeful Robert: William Howland and Margaret were married, she wasn't his mistress, she was his wife. The instant Tolliver hears this news, he leaves Abigail and shortly files for divorce. His political career is now ruined and he no longer has any use for her and so he cuts out and heads back to his home town.
The county knew that Margaret's children were fathered by William and that was OK. But the idea that he actually married a black woman is not OK. Even though Margaret and William have been dead for years, still the mob must have its revenge and takes it out on the only Howland available, Abigail.

I found this to be a really interesting and engrossing story, although sad and depressing. This is not a happy tale, not at all. Margaret and William suffer because they cannot reveal their marriage or that their children are not illegitimate. The three mixed race kids suffer because they are sent away from their family. Abigail suffers when her marriage falls apart and she is forced to bear the brunt of the county's anger against her grandfather. No, it is not a happy tale but it was a fascinating read.

Review by Kirkus Reviews.