May Readers’ Review: “Euphoria” by Lily King

[Kirsten]

For this month’s Readers’ Review: “Euphoria,” by Lily King. It’s a novel inspired by events in the life of the revolutionary anthropologist, Margaret Mead. Join Diane and her guests for the discussion.

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/201...

Guests

Bethanne Patrick

Louis Bayard, author, Roosevelt's Beast. His other books include The Pale Blue Eye, The School of Night and Mr. Timothy, a New York Times Notable Book. He teaches fiction writing at The George Washington University.

Denise Brennan, associate professor and chair of the department of anthropolgy, Georgetown University

[Kirsten]

I just finished reading Euphoria by Lily King which was inspired by actual events in the life of Margaret Mead.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Kirsten]

Updated Diane Rehm Show page:

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/201...

In the late 1920s, anthropology was in its infancy. Then, Margaret Mead published Coming of Age in Samoa: A Psychological Study of Primitive Youth for Western Civilisation and the discipline found a star. Mead wrote candidly about sex and female desire, catching the attention of both the academy and the general public. But it was a 1933 field trip down the Sepik River in New Guinea that piqued the imagination of novelist Lily King. During that time, Mead and her second husband collaborated with another man she would later marry. King tells their story of ego, desire and intellectual exploration in the 2014 novel, “Euphoria,” our pick for May’s Readers’ Review. Join Diane and her guests for the discussion.

Guests

Denise Brennan, professor and chair,department of anthropology, Georgetown University

Bethanne Patrick, freelance book critic and contributing editor at lithub.com

Louis Bayard, author, Roosevelt's Beast. His other books include The Pale Blue Eye, The School of Night and Mr. Timothy, a New York Times Notable Book. He teaches fiction writing at The George Washington University.