Pretendence

The story of forced pretense and a life borrowed from another's shoulder.

America of the roaring twenties and The Great Gatsby. Women dream of a luxurious life. Men gaze at striking beauties. And few guess that behind a dazzling appearance may lie an incredible secret. The fate of the heroine with African American roots seems to show that in any society one can pretend to belong, for the main thing is an unshakeable confidence that the world should belong to you. But what if no achieved heights can erase the longing for what was absorbed with mother's milk? For a past life, for true friends. And all the benefits gained from social pretense ‒ passing, will not replace the simple happiness of being oneself.

This dramatic book was written in 1929, is considered an American classic and is included in university reading lists.