William Kinsolving

Black and White
and Read All Over

A secret interracial marriage. One of New York’s wealthiest families. And a trial that forced America to decide who was white.

Available in hardcover, paperback, eBook, and audiobook on Amazon Apple Books and Audible.

“An engrossing and captivating novel that resonates with this boisterous era.”

— Historical Novel Society

Listen to the Story

Hear the opening of Black and White and Read All Over.

Continue the story on Hard Cover, Paperback, Amazon, Apple Books, or Audible

“An extraordinary work of historical fiction.”

— Midwest Book Review

Step into 1925

The Soundtrack to
Black and White and Read All Over

From the sounds of the Jazz Age to contemporary songs that echo the novel’s themes of love, race, identity and belonging, William Kinsolving’s curated playlist brings another dimension to the story.

Acclaimed Historical Fiction

"An engrossing and captivating novel that resonates with this boisterous era."

"Kinsolving masterfully explores themes of race, class, identity, and media sensationalism while maintaining a deeply human story at its center."

“Perhaps the novel’s greatest achievement is its relevance...A thought-provoking novel that reminds us how easily society can turn private lives into public spectacle.”

Available in hardcover, paperback, eBook, and audiobook on Amazon Apple Books and Audible.

“An engrossing and captivating novel that resonates with this boisterous era.”
— Historical Novel Society

“Kinsolving masterfully explores themes of race, class, identity, and media sensationalism while maintaining a deeply human story at its center. GET IT”
— Kirkus Reviews

“An extraordinary work of historical fiction.”
— Midwest Book Review

Drawing on trial transcripts, contemporary newspapers, personal letters and diary entries, William Kinsolving’s Black and White and Read All Over reimagines the remarkable true story of the Rhinelander case through the lives of the people who endured it—a story of love under surveillance, privilege and power, and the dangerous distance between what is legal and what is just.

In 1925, America couldn’t look away. A century later, neither will you.

"The book uses fiction to fill the gaps that court records and New York Times articles do not cover, and in doing so breathes new life into this slice of history. The result is a compelling love story between two people brought together by chance and torn apart by forces of race, class and power beyond their control."

"A deeply emotional and thought-provoking novel that stayed with the reviewer long after the final page. Set in 1920s New York, the story explores race, privilege, and the painful realities faced by the central couple with honesty and emotional depth. The reviewer noted needing time to reflect before starting another book, calling it rare among novels they would consider rereading. They also praised how effectively the novel captures the social tensions of the era and connects them to issues that still feel relevant today. Highly recommended."

"A powerful and emotionally honest novel about race, wealth, class, and social power in America. The reviewer was immediately drawn into the world of Alice and Len and praised the strong character development and compelling love story at the center of the Rhinelander Affair. Though set in the 1920s, the themes felt strikingly modern, highlighting how racism and privilege continue to shape society today. The reviewer found the story deeply relevant, emotionally engaging, and difficult to put down, calling it a compelling read that stayed with them after finishing."

"A gripping and deeply affecting retelling of the 1925 Rhinelander scandal that transforms a sensational historical case into an intimate human tragedy. The reviewer praised the novel for focusing not only on the courtroom spectacle, but on the genuine love between Len and Alice before public scrutiny destroyed their lives. They highlighted the book’s exploration of race, identity, and social judgment, as well as its “lean, precise, and unflinching” writing style. Emotionally powerful and highly immersive, the novel left a lasting impression and was described as unforgettable and very highly recommended."

"An emotional and unforgettable historical novel that left the reviewer reflecting long after finishing it. The story’s exploration of race, privilege, and social division in 1920s New York was described as heartbreaking, timely, and deeply thought-provoking. The reviewer especially appreciated how vividly the book captured the atmosphere of the period and the painful struggles faced by the couple at the center of the story. Calling it one of the rare books worth rereading, they praised its emotional impact and strongly recommended it to others."

"A gripping and disturbingly timely novel built around an extraordinary true story from American history. The reviewer praised the book’s emotional intensity and page-turning quality, noting how difficult it was to stop reading despite the painful subject matter. They were especially struck by how relevant the themes still feel today, observing that the novel raises unsettling questions about whether society has truly changed. Powerful, compelling, and emotionally affecting, the book left a strong impression and deeply moved the reviewer."

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Yeah, yeah, I live to write, I write to live. So: there's a lot of stuff. Please enjoy.

After Stanford, Kinsolving went to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival to play Richard II. He then attended The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Returning to New York, he appeared as an actor under-, off- and on Broadway. During these years, he acted and/or directed at the Stratford (CT) Shakespeare Theater, Harvard, Dartmouth, Café La Mama, then won the Best Actor of the Year award from the San Francisco Chronicle for his performance at the Berkeley Rep.

Kinsolving wrote his first play backstage. It was awarded a Ford Foundation Playwriting Grant. The play was produced by the Stratford Ontario Shakespeare Festival. This led to his writing and/or doctoring screenplays for every major studio in Los Angeles, London, and Rome, approximately 54 films in toto. He then wrote and published five novels, one a NYTimes bestseller, a couple being chosen as Literary Guild Main Selections.

When the publishing world began to implode, he happily returned to playwriting, with presentations of his new work taking place in multiple venues, and new productions being considered. His musical, THAT WEEK WITH THE BACHS, was presented last year (2023) in San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral.

He now returns to fiction with his novel Black and White and Read All Over, based on the infamous Rhinelander trial of the 1920s, soon to be published in May 2026.