Wednesday, Mar. 28, 2012
Peyton Place, by Grace Metalious
Sex, lies and betrayal are par for the course in Peyton Place, the fictional town at the heart of Grace Metalious' 1956 novel of the same name. Behind the picturesque façade of an idyllic New England setting lays a hornet's nest of lust, incest, abortion, and adultery. The book proved both fascinating and repellent: As millions devoured the tome — it was on The New York Times bestseller list for 59 weeks — it was also banned in several conservative areas of the country. The scandalous tale was subsequently turned into both a television show and a movie and the term "Peyton Place" has since become shorthand for any locale thought to have a wealth of secrets behind its closed doors.