Here is the biography of Grace Metalious:
Grace Metalious was born Marie Grace de Repentigny on September 8, 1924, in Manchester, New Hampshire. Her mother, who was French Canadian, downplayed their heritage due to the discrimination they faced from "native" Yankees and the Irish. Metalious learned to hide secrets from her mother, a theme that would later appear in her novel "Peyton Place."
Metalious grew up in a poor household with her mother, two sisters, and a father who eventually left the family. The family's poverty and the stigma of a broken home led to Metalious feeling shame and social stigmatization. She turned to writing as a way to escape her unhappy family life.
Metalious married George Metalious, a Greek man, in 1943, despite her family's objections. After World War II, the couple moved to Durham, New Hampshire, where Metalious began to focus on her writing. Her novel "Peyton Place" was inspired by a real-life murder that had taken place in New Hampshire and was published in 1956.
"Peyton Place" became a huge success, selling eight million copies in hardcover and 12 million in paperback. The novel was criticized for its explicit content, but Metalious defended her work, saying that it was a reflection of reality. The novel's success made Metalious a wealthy woman, but it also brought her a lot of attention and criticism.
Metalious' personal life was marked by turmoil. She struggled with addiction and had a series of failed marriages. She eventually settled in Meredith, New Hampshire, where she lived a reclusive life. Metalious died of cirrhosis of the liver on February 25, 1964, at the age of 39.
Metalious' legacy is complex. She is remembered as a pioneering writer who explored themes of sexuality, violence, and social hypocrisy in her work. Her novel "Peyton Place" is considered a classic of American literature, and it paved the way for future writers of women's fiction. However, Metalious' personal life was marked by tragedy and turmoil, and her struggles with addiction and depression are a reminder of the darker side of her story.
