Evelyn

Evelyn is the protagonist of the book’s 1944-1945 storyline. At the beginning of the novel, she is about 19 years old and lives in the Seventh Ward, a neighborhood of New Orleans. Her family is relatively wealthy, as her father is a successful doctor. Evelyn is studying to be a nurse at Dillard University. One day, she falls in love with Renard, who is studying to be a doctor but who comes from a relatively poor family. Evelyn’s father does not approve of her dating Renard, but Evelyn defends the relationship, as she and Renard are deeply in love.

Evelyn becomes pregnant by Renard, although Evelyn does not realize this until Renard has already left the country to fight in World War Two. Evelyn does not tell him until he returns to the country, as she feared the news would scare Renard away. However, Renard is ecstatic...