An exceptional true crime rendition about an historical event that puts the tragedy of the crime-particularly the effect it had on women at the time-into a very informative context.

This is one of the most engaging and entertaining non-fiction books that I’ve read this year, and I was not expecting it, if I am being honest.

Weisberg’s research is impeccable- she presents numerous sources from multiple points of view to rebuild this dramatic and seemingly outrageous episode from history. As an historian, I was impressed with just how many sources she used for this book, and how well she worked them in. We get quite a bit of detail from the trial itself and I think that it was a good choice- given all of the background she provided, I felt like I understood the trial and like I was there.

The strongest aspect of this book is the highlighting of the status of women in Gilded Age New York. The Gilded Age is a popular show (I love it), and a lot of people have gotten their history from it. Women on the show are portrayed as having an incredible amount of agency and power, but that is far from the truth in most cases. Many people now do not know that women in the US could not have a credit card in their own name until 1974, and just how far women’s rights have come in the last half century. It is important, even outside of women’s history month, to continue discussing and sharing these stories, and Strong Passions is an excellent book to do that.

I will say finally, I am always intrigued by a story where I don’t feel strongly in favour of any figure, and that is exactly what Weisberg has done!

A good book about awful people and a reminder that drama isn't confined to reality TV. A fascinating story about 19th century divorce laws and their human impact.

In 1862, Mary Strong confessed to having an affair with her husband Peter’s brother. Peter sued for divorce, and Mary countered with allegations of coercion and infidelity. The scandalous trial, Strong v. Strong, gripped the nation during the Civil War’s end, offering a glimpse into the private lives of New York’s elite. The author invites readers to weigh the evidence and decide the truth for themselves.

This historical nonfiction does a good job of telling the Strongs’ story and recounting the facts of the case, while also creating a vivid picture of life in their social milieu.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This book was very interesting. It read like a novel. It is set in a time well before divorces were legal or commonplace. It was like Wuthering Heights, in that there really wasn't much of anyone to root for. Everyone seemed kind of vile in their own way.

Divorces can be messy. Unfortunately, books about them can also be messy.

Strong Passions by Barbara Weisberg is a book about missed opportunities. It follows the story of the divorce battle between Mary and Peter Strong. You see, Mary decided to go and and sleep with Peter's brother. Peter sued for divorce and Mary accused him of forcing her to have an abortion and that he was having an affair with an abortionist.

Oh, are you mad at me for not posting a spoiler warning? Well, don't be. All of these facts are contained in the description of the book and then brought up again very early in the narrative. It is maddening. There are many twists and turns in the story which are given away almost immediately by the author. It's fatal to any sense of shock in the book. It also means that when you actually get to the courtroom scenes there is no suspense. It becomes lawyers arguing about things you already know. The repetition makes the book drag badly.

Also, with historical true crime, the author needs to immerse the reader in the world as it was during the time period. Weisberg actually does a very good job until she goes overboard. As a reader, I thought she did some excellent world building but then didn't stop. It's a shame because Weisberg can write well, but those skills cannot overcome the bad storytelling choices.

Finally, what pieces of work the Strongs were. Whomever you believe, you don't feel good about it. By the time I was done, I felt like it was best we forgot about Mary and Peter as soon as possible.

(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and W. W. Norton and Company.)

A fascinating historical narrative that is at odds with many of the conventions we believe to be true about 19th century American propriety. This recounting is gripping.

The Strong v. Strong case is full of drama and salacious hearsay. The author does well to avoid injecting her own opinions, which would be fairly easy to do in such a muddy trial. After reading mostly fiction, I was reminded that people are far more complex in real life, and are often motivated by their own interests, mired as they are in moral ambiguity. (That being said, I do think a dramatization of this case would be especially interesting - whether told accurately or embellishing certain elements.) The author also provides greater context to happenings outside the trial, and I learned about some important events in the nation’s history that had never been presented to me in a textbook. I especially enjoyed the parallels made between the couple’s division and the division between North and South during the civil war.

This book is a reminder that I need to keep nonfiction titles in my rotation. While the subject matter of 19th century New York high society may only appeal to niche audiences (me), I think the way it is presented and it’s commentary about American society, both past and present, give it wide appeal.