Jennifer Chiaverini

Light Paperback (1 lb or less)

New York

Alerted to the possibility that her family had ties to the slaveholding South, Sylvia searches her attic for her great-grandmother's quilt, a log cabin with black central squares that, according to legend, was a sign of sanctuary to slaves escaping north along the Underground Railroad. In the attic, she also discovers the memoir of her great-grandfather's spinster sister, Gerda Bergstrom, which becomes the catalyst for a journey back through time and memory. Gerda's record of the tumultuous years between 1853 and 1859 reveals not only the founding of Elm Creek Manor, but also a Pennsylvania farming community divided by the issue of slavery. Sylvia learns that her ancestors did indeed become stationmasters on the Underground Railroad, but in a far different manner than told in the idealized tales handed down through the generations. Through Gerda's memoir, Sylvia stitches together the disparate pieces of her past only to discover family discord, betrayal, and a long-held secret. With the help of the Elm Creek Quilters and the clues in her ancestors' quilts, Sylvia grapples with hard truths as she comes to terms with her family's past.

The Runaway Quilt

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When Sylvia Compson discovers evidence of her ancestors' involvement with the Underground Railroad, it raises the historical issue of the use of quilts as a method of signalling fugitive slaves.

Category - Fiction / African American Fiction

Format - Paperback

Condition - Good

Listed - A month ago

Views - 2

Ships From - New York

Est. Publication Date - Mar 2003

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