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In 1934 California, Helen Louise Jorz seems to have an ideal life—a devoted husband who’s a rising civic leader, a comfortable life in the East Bay, and her poetry appearing in respected newspapers. But when she meets Lamar Hollingshead, a brilliant young Berkeley student writing an epic poem called “The White Hibiscus,” Helen discovers a connection that transcends her conventional marriage.
What begins as a shared passion for poetry evolves into a dangerous affair conducted through passionate letters and secret meetings. Helen finds herself torn between duty to Judson, her steadfast husband, and her spiritual and intellectual bond with the sensitive young poet who sees her as his muse. When their correspondence is discovered, the consequences spiral far beyond what any of them could imagine.
Based on the true “White Hibiscus Love Triangle” that scandalized Depression-era America, this literary novel explores the collision between passion and propriety, artistic ambition, and social expectations. Through meticulous research and the actual love letters that captivated northern California and beyond, the story reveals how three people’s choices led to tragedy that would destroy lives and challenge society’s notions of love, honor, and justice.