Synopsis
In this poignant literary and family memoir, Penelope Coker Hall and Eliza Wilson Ingle give readers a front row seat to the remarkable life and career of award-winning author Elizabeth Boatwright Coker (1909-1993). Quoting liberally from Elizabeth's own letters, journal entries, book passages and interviews, A Curious Heart reveals for the first time the inner life of this complex, small-town Southern woman, who dreamed of becoming a published writer. Born in Darlington, South Carolina in an era when women could not vote and the legacy of the Civil War suffused nearly everything, Elizabeth was blessed with movie star beauty, a keen intellect and sense of humor, and boatloads of determination. At an early age, she was mentored by inspired teachers and some of the great writers of the 20th century. She would go on to challenge the status quo, in her life and her books. Elizabeth's journey juggling the demands of corporate wife and mother with that of working writer is a story of trial and triumph, heartbreak and joy. Her life spanned nearly the entire century, the second half of which yielded nine historical novels. With sensitivity and insight, the authors chronicle the passion, the powers of observation, the gift of storytelling, and the fierce independence that propelled their mother and grandmother to The New York Times bestseller list and the South Carolina Hall of Fame.
About the Author
Born in Hartsville, South Carolina, PENELOPE COKER HALL matriculated to Sara Lawrence College and eventually settled in New York, becoming a writer and host for Metromedia's Channel Five TV show "The New Yorkers." Later at NBC, Hall worked as a co-producer of several TV specials, including "Vanishing 400" and "Debutante." During this time, she met and married film producer William Wilson and in 1968 their daughter, Eliza, was born. In 1972, Hall left the performing arts and embarked on a new marriage with widower Mortimer Hall of Millbrook, N.Y. Ensconced in Millbrook for 50 years, Hall served as editor of Dutchess Magazine while raising daughter Eliza as well as Morti's five young children, along with a bevy of horses and dogs. Hall is author of several children's books and the novel Riding High (under the pseudonym of Emily Brooks), written with former E.P. Dutton editor Ann LaFarge. Today, she divides her time between Charleston, S.C. and Millbrook. Originally from New York, ELIZA WILSON INGLE received her BA in Dance from Middlebury College in Vermont. After a brief stint in New York City, she moved to Charleston, S.C. and became a Professor of Dance at the College of Charleston, as well as a performer and choreographer with Anonymity Dance Company. Since 1994, Ingle has reviewed dance for The Post and Courier during the Spoleto Festival and served as a freelance writer for Charleston Magazine and Charleston City Paper. She is currently a creator and co-host of the OHM radio show "Just Imagine," which covers local cultural events and people. She thanks her husband and three grown daughters for their love and support. VIRGINIA CHRISTIAN BEACH was born in Richmond, Virginia and earned a BA in English from the University of Virginia. From there she served as a Peace Corps volunteer in East Africa, after which she worked for Little, Brown publishers in New York. Beach is the author of four books and a writer and editor for numerous publications and periodicals. She and her husband reside in Charleston, South Carolina where their two grown children were raised.
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