What do readers think of Strong Passions by Barbara Weisberg? Write your own review.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

The story of a scandalous divorce in the 1860's was interesting, but my awakening came when I realized that now, in 2023 there are efforts to drag us back to the days when men won and women had no rights. Read the book if you can, it is good to be aware.

I liked this book and was fascinated by this true story of privilege and society in the mid-1800's. This book is a detailed accounting of a divorce and child custody case between two high society New Yorkers from well-to-do families. At that time, the laws governing divorce and child custody disregarded women's rights entirely, and once a women got married, she basically had no independence at all. The behavior of the participants in this story illustrates that basic human nature does not change, but cultures do evolve over time. The drama played out in the context of the broader values and culture among privileged citizens and New Yorkers in the mid-1800's and incorporates major events happening at that time such as the Civil War, the assassination of Lincoln, and the abolishing of slavery. I got a little bogged down with the details of the trial, but the book certainly held my interest throughout and has inspired me to learn more about the origin of the women's rights movement in the U.S.