The Sable Cloak - by Gail Milissa Grant

About the Book

"Jordan Sable, a prosperous undertaker turned political boss, has controlled the Black vote in St. Louis for decades. Sara, his equally formidable wife, runs the renowned funeral establishment that put the Sable name on the map. Agile and pragmatic, she is known for the careful, deliberate way in which she powders, dresses, and embalms the community's dead. Together, in a true partnership built on trust, mutual respect, and a shared vision for a better future, they have pushed through several obstacles in order to create a legacy for their children through a business that serves as a source of unity and stability for their friends and neighbors. When tragedy bursts their carefully constructed empire of dignity and safety, the family rallies around an unconventional solution. But at what cost? Set in the Midwest in the 1940s, The Sable Cloak is a rarely seen portrait of an upper middle class, African American family in the pre-Civil Rights era. Brimming with multifaceted characters who weave their way through love, heartbreak, and the fight for autonomy, this intricate, deeply personal novel inspired by the author's own family history delves into legacy and the stories we tell ourselves, and celebrates a largely self-sustaining, culturally rich Missouri community that most Americans may not be aware of."--

Book Synopsis

In this atmospheric novel set in the Jim Crow South, a powerful Black family fights to protect their empire--for readers of Tayari Jones.

Jordan Sable, a prosperous undertaker turned political boss, has controlled the Black vote in St. Louis for decades. Sara, his equally formidable wife, runs the renowned funeral establishment that put the Sable name on the map. Together they have pushed through obstacles in order to create a legacy for their children. When tragedy bursts their carefully constructed empire of dignity and safety, the family rallies around an unconventional solution. But at what cost?

Set in the Midwest in the 1940s, The Sable Cloak is a rarely seen portrait of an upper middle class, African American family in the pre-Civil Rights era. This deeply personal novel inspired by the author's own family history delves into legacy and the stories we tell ourselves, and celebrates a largely self-sustaining, culturally rich Missouri community that most Americans may not be aware of.

Review Quotes

"The Sable Cloak captives the reader in this engrossing historical novel set in the Jim Crow South and Midwest between World War I and the early 1960s. Gail Milissa Grant has created finely drawn deeply human characters who fall in and out of love, create thriving businesses, start labor unions, and form families with strict codes of conduct that help them challenge the racial status quo across the generations. The saga of the Andersons and the Sables from rural South Carolina to Atlanta, St. Louis, and beyond enriches our understanding of how many Black Americans succeeded against the odds, sometimes at great personal cost."--Francille Rusan Wilson, historian, University of Southern California

"The Sable Cloak is an exquisite story about the Black middle class in the 1940s and it has a pulse that rings steady and strong, making it a real page-turner. It is both bold and imaginative with characters who leapt off the page and into my heart. A fascinating piece of historical fiction that visits Black wealth, politics, love, and the ability to choose one's own destiny and protect your legacy. A must read."--Sadeqa Johnson, New York Times bestselling author of The House of Eve

"From the very first page, I was captivated by the world of Sara and Jordan Sable, a Black family thriving in the South during the 1940s. As pillars of the upper middle class, their political and social influence was as extraordinary as it was groundbreaking for the time. But when a shocking event threatens to unravel everything they've built, their bold and unexpected response alters the trajectory of their family's history forever. I loved The Sable Cloak for its seamless blend of history and fiction. With equal parts jaw-dropping twists and deeply emotional resonance, Gail Milissa Grant brings to life a rarely explored chapter of American history--a powerful Black family navigating life before the civil rights movement. This epic tale of legacy, resilience, and sacrifice is an unforgettable must-read."--Victoria Christopher Murray, New York Times bestselling author

"Grant presents an evocative view of affluent Black life prior to the civil rights era, showing how her characters' wealth and influence can't shield them from racial violence. It's a rich family saga delivered with style and heart."--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Gail Milissa Grant was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri at the cusp of the modern civil rights movement. She is currently a writer and public speaker, based in Rome, Italy. Her first book, At the Elbows of My Elders: One Family's Journey Toward Civil Rights, won the Benjamin Franklin Book of the Year 2009 for autobiography/memoir and also received an Award of Merit from the American Association for State and Local History. Ms. Grant has presented her book and lectured on civil rights history at over eighty venues, including Oxford University, Columbia University, New York University, Mohammed V University (Morocco), the Smithsonian Institute, and numerous US embassies throughout Europe. Her past careers include diplomacy and university teaching (art and architectural history) at Howard University in Washington, DC. As a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Information Agency and the U.S. State Department, she was assigned to Norway, France and Brazil, and did extensive press advance work for three U.S. presidents on four continents.