The Wedding

Set on Martha's Vineyard in the 1950s, Dorothy West's final novel, The Wedding, provides an intimate portrayal of the African American middle class within an exclusive, insular community. The story centers around the prominent Coles family as they prepare for the wedding of their daughter, Shelby, who falls in love with a white jazz musician, prompting reflection on race, class, and community change. Through elegant prose, West explores the complexities faced by a family confronting shifting social norms.