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There are currently 20 member reviews
for Strong Passions
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Francine E. (Shirley, NY)
Scandal in Old New York
One wore blue, one wore gray. The Civil War had divided the country. The Strong v Strong Divorce Trial opened on November 23, 1865, lasted for five weeks and captivated the nation. "Seven months after Abraham Lincoln's assassination, the case provided a war-torn country with a shocking distraction and an unusual glimpse into the private world of New York's powerful and privileged elite." "The elite nature of the embattled parties, the accusations of adultery, abortion, and child abduction made for multiple headlines and the public's voyeuristic fascination."
"Ideally matched" storybook couple, Mary Stevens and Peter Strong were born to privilege in New York. Mary was raised in a home with a "high-toned puritanical atmosphere" however, she "veered slightly from the nineteenth century ideal of the passive, perfectly genteel young lady." Peter "enjoyed the life of leisure of a well-to-do gentleman, the occupation of choice for many young men of his class." His law degree from Columbia sat on a shelf, unused.
After marrying, Mary ceased "legally to exist"...A married woman's identity was 'covered' or subsumed by her husbands...the domestic realm...was 'defined a separate sphere' from the heady public, political, and economic sphere of a man." Mary's desire for a dwelling of her own would never be realized. The couple lived at the Strong family estate in Queens, New York, under the thumb of Peter's mother. Peter, leading a free-wheeling carefree life on his mother's dime, often left Mary to fend for herself. No emotional support was provided even during her several miscarriages. Her joy was their two children, Mamie and Allie. The bedroom across the hall from Mary's was occupied by Peter's brother, Edward who was recently widowed.
Strong v Strong was portrayed by the press as a cross suit: "Peter and Mary each accused the other of adultery, requested a divorce, and asked for custody of the children." "The freedom to legally remarry depended on obtaining a divorce decree, at least for the party judged innocent. The guilty party generally was barred from remarrying during the innocent party's lifetime." Peter demanded full custody of his daughters considering it to be "his traditional paternal right." Mary having a "will few could withstand", disappeared with younger daughter, Allie.
Strong v Strong. Reliable v unreliable (perhaps paid-off) witnesses. Evidence v hearsay. She said, he said. Author Barbara Weisberg presents a well researched, documented case of a salacious divorce in Old New York. Highly recommended.
Thank you W.W. Norton and BookBrowse for the print ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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Dana S. (Raleigh, NC)
All the tea!
I love a good social history and this one did not disappoint. I was engrossed in the details of this divorce and custody case as if it was happening modern day, and I definitely had opinions! This is a juicy historical gem.
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Bev C. (Latrobe, PA)
Strong Passions
Strong Passions: A Scandalous Divorce in Old New York recounts the tumultuous marriage of Peter and Mary Strong and the legal and personal aspects of pursuing divorce in upper crust New York, 1862.
If you check the acknowledgments, notes and bibliography, you will realize it is far more than a cursory biographical sketch of divorce in "old New York".
It is quite intense reading and would definitely appeal to those interested in New York history.
"Weisberg uses a scandalous divorce to illuminate tensions surrounding marriage, gender, and sexuality in Edith Wharton's upper-class New York City." (Clifton Hood)
I would not suggest this biography to those looking for a light read. It can definitely be appreciated by someone looking for in-depth period material.
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Anke V. (Portland, OR)
STRONG PASSIONS by Barbara Weisberg
Divorces can be messy. STRONG PASSIONS by Barbara Weisberg follows the story of the divorce battle between Mary and Peter Strong, offering an interesting look into married life and divorce in the late 1800s. In the first half, the author provides the perfect amount of background history on the couple and their families to give an understanding of important relationships. The second half reads like the transcript of the Strongs' divorce trial.
Mary Stevens and Peter Strong were born to privilege in New York. Mary was raised in a home with a puritanical atmosphere but slightly veered from the ideal of a passive, perfectly genteel young lady. Peter enjoyed the life of leisure of a well-to-do gentleman, the occupation of choice for many young men of his class, with his law degree from Columbia sitting on a shelf, unused. After marrying, Mary ceased legally to exist, and her desire for a dwelling of her own would never be realized: the couple lived at the Strong family estate in Queens, New York, under the thumb of Peter's mother. Peter, leading a free-wheeling carefree life on his mother's dime, often left Mary to fend for herself, providing no emotional support even during her miscarriages. Mamie and Allie, Mary's children, were her joy. Edward, Peter's widowed brother, was living in the bedroom across the hall from Mary and Peter.
The Strong v Strong Divorce Trial opened on November 23, 1865, lasted for five weeks and captivated the nation. Only seven months after Abraham Lincoln's assassination, the case provided a war-torn country with a shocking distraction and an unusual glimpse into the private world of New York's powerful and privileged elite. Peter and Mary each accused the other of adultery, requested a divorce, and asked for custody of the children. The freedom to legally remarry depended on obtaining a divorce decree, at least for the party judged innocent. The guilty party generally was barred from remarrying during the innocent party's lifetime. Peter demanded full custody of his daughters considering it to be his traditional paternal right. Mary having a will few could withstand, ran off with younger daughter, Allie, at the start of the trial.
Strong Passions reads like a novel, although it is a true story. The author makes the ins and outs of the late 1800s justice system (regarding divorce) in New York understandable. The obvious bias against women is an integral part of this story.
Thank you WW Norton & Company and BookBrowse for the print ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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Amy (Nevada)
Strong Passions
Rich in history, this account of a scandalous divorce in high society was fascinating with excellent research of that 19th century period. Being interested in history and law, this book held my attention to the very end. The author's beautiful writing and her details of Mary and Peter Strong brought this book to life for me and added the required background to understand the "who" and the "why" of the situation. It was easy to be sympathetic to Mary's plight, although I was left wondering more about Peter. (I will pay more attention when I reread this book.) Privilege, wealth, societal standing, adultery, abortion, women's rights (or lack thereof), kidnapping, courtroom drama…this story has it all. I cannot wait to recommend this book to my book club!
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Peggy K. (Frederick, CO)
19th-Century Divorce Court!
Strong Passions is an unusual story, both in fact and in the telling. Divorce in mid-to-late nineteenth century was a rare thing, indeed, and Weisberg tells the story in a lively way that allows the reader into the courtroom. Along with fascinating insights into the arcane and biased divorce and child custody laws of the era, Weisberg has a probing nose for the salacious in this extremely juicy family story of love, adultery, paternity, and the helplessness of children when spouses go to war. A fun read that I highly recommend!
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Janet T. (Northbrook, IL)
Divorce Trial Intrigue
In New York around the time of the Civil War, a divorce was particularly difficult to obtain. This fascinating account relates the true story of a prominent divorce trial exploring claims and counterclaims of adultery.
The situation for women, judged only by men, was terrifying. Custody of children was presumed to belong to fathers.
Faced with losing custody of her two daughters, Mary Strong fled with her younger daughter. Her husband sued for divorce.
This account is well written and the trial showcases the drama of the situation. It held my interest thoroughly and kept me reading.
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