Grace Metalious ​

Marie Grace DeRepentigny, better known by her pen name Grace Metalious, was an American author best known for her controversial novel "Peyton Place". Her works focused on the hidden scandals and secrets of small town America.

Quick Facts ​

• Best known for writing the controversial novel "Peyton Place".
• This novel became the first-ever mass-market paperback.
• Her work had vast influence on American popular culture.
• The novel was later adapted into film with two sequels, and a prime time television series.
• Died of cirrhosis of the liver at the age of 39.
• Described as "the most powerful woman in Hollywood at the time".

Background ​

Metalious was born in 1924, in Manchester, New Hampshire. Raised during the Great Depression, she grappled with poverty from an early age. She left school when she was 15, yet always dreamed of being a writer. In 1943, she married George Metalious, a Greek-American, and became a housewife in the small New England town of Gilmanton. She began writing in her spare time and famously penned her breakout novel, Peyton Place, on the kitchen table with a typewriter.

Peyton Place, which was published in 1956, was an instant success and stirred some controversy for its depiction of small-town life, packed with tales of lust, incest, and abortion. It was turned into a popular movie and television series. However, this success didn't translate to happiness for Metalious, who had a rough personal life. Her marriage was strained, and she struggled with alcoholism. Despite her troubled life, she continued to write until her death in 1964 at the age of 39.

Writing Style and Impact ​

Metalious's writing style was raw and edgy, often addressing controversial subjects such as sex and socioeconomic disparity. Her work was often criticized for its explicit content, but was also praised for its frank portrayal of issues often swept under the rug. Her work has been credited with pushing boundaries and shifting societal perceptions, with her most famous novel, "Peyton Place", sparking conversations about sexuality and class in America.

Notable Works ​

• Peyton Place (1956)
• Return to Peyton Place (1959)
• The Tight White Collar (1960)
• No Adam in Eden (1963)