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Fiction 20th Century

No Crystal Stair

by (author) Mairuth Sarsfield

introduction by Dorothy W. Williams

Publisher
Linda Leith Publishing
Initial publish date
Oct 2021
Category
20th Century, Historical, Contemporary Women
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9780889614512
    Publish Date
    Nov 2004
    List Price
    $19.95
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781773900919
    Publish Date
    Oct 2021
    List Price
    $21.95
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781773900926
    Publish Date
    Oct 2021
    List Price
    $9.99

Classroom Resources

Where to buy it

Description

First published in 1993, No Crystal Stair is an absorbing story of urban struggle in the 1940s. Raising her three daughters alone, Marion discovers she can only find gainful employment if she passes as white. Set in the Montreal working class neighbourhood of Little Burgundy against the backdrop of an exciting cosmopolitan jazz scene—home of Oscar Peterson, Oliver Jones, and Rockhead's Paradise—and the tense years of World War II, No Crystal Stair is both a tender story of friendship and community as well as an indictment of Canada's "soft" racism.
In 2005, No Crystal Stair was nominated for Canada Reads and was defended by Olympic fencer Sherraine MacKay. It has been out of print for the past several years and this re-edition is an opportunity to bring a pivotal work of fiction back to Canadian readers.

About the authors

Born in Montreal in 1925, Mairuth Sarsfield was an author, activist, journalist, researcher and diplomat. She was one of the first Black women appointed to the CBC Board of Directors. She worked for Foreign Affairs at Expo 67 in Montreal and at Expo 70 in Osaka, Japan. As senior information officer for the United Nations Environment Program in Nairobi, Kenya, she created the international campaign "For Every Child a Tree." In 1986, Sarsfield received the Chevalier de l'ordre national du Québec. In 2005, No Crystal Stair was a contender on Canada Reads. Mairuth Sarsfield died in 2013 at the age of 88.

Mairuth Sarsfield's profile page

Dorothy W. Williams' profile page

Awards

  • Nominated, Canada Reads
  • 2005: Nominated for Canada Reads