Perseverance

The illegitimate son of a Danish seaman and a black slave, William Leidesdorff might have spent his life on the island of St. Croix had not a wealthy plantation owner named Mr. Forest adopted the boy as his own. Mr. Forest makes only one condition for the boy's adoption-Will is never to reveal his true parentage.

Sent to New Orleans to help manage his uncle's cotton plantation, the young man finds himself swept into the city's balls and board meetings-and into the heart of the daughter of the city's mayor. Love blossoms, but the secret of his heritage gnaws at Will. Announcing his mixed-race origins could destroy his chance at happiness, but can he continue to live a lie?

Carolyn Holm Bakken tells the fictionalized story of William Leidesdorff, widely considered one of the first black North American millionaires and a founding father of the state of California. From his early days in St. Croix and New Orleans to his influence as US vice consul to Mexico, Perseverance charts Will's progress into history. It's a little-known tale of one man's love of adventure, business, and two exceptional women.