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Barbara Weisberg Reading and Reception
Weisberg is the author of Strong Passions: A Scandalous Divorce in New York, which was recently published to critical acclaim. An "Editors Choice" review in the New York Times called it a "riveting reconstruction of a scandal" and "a story that fiction could not touch."
Strong Passions, rooted in the beguiling times of Edith Wharton’s “old New York,” recounts the true story of a tumultuous marriage. In 1862, Mary Strong stunned her husband, Peter, by confessing to a two-year affair with his brother. Peter sued Mary for divorce for adultery—the only grounds in New York—but not before she accused him of forcing her into an abortion and having his own affair with the abortionist. She then kidnapped their young daughter and disappeared.
The divorce trial Strong v. Strong riveted the nation during the final throes and aftermath of the Civil War, offering a shocking glimpse into the private world of New York’s powerful and privileged elite. Barbara Weisberg presents the chaotic courtroom and panoply of witnesses—governess, housekeeper, private detective, sisters-in-law, and many others—who provided contradictory and often salacious testimony. She then asks us to be the jury, deciding each spouse’s guilt and the possibility of a just resolution.
Join us at the bookstore for a reading and reception with Barbara Weisberg; a chance to discuss this fascinating book, sip wine selections from Chatham Wine & Liquor, and mix and mingle with other local literarians. We will have copies of Strong Passions available for sale and signing!
Event Links
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/2433098-0
