Gwendolyn & Eddie - by Michael O L Seabaugh (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

" . . . a thoughtful and highly entertaining tale. " -Alex DeMille, New York Times bestselling author

". . . highly original tale that crackles with fresh insight, Southern humor, and savage irreverence." -Linda Bloodworth Thomason, creator of Designing Women, 2024 recipient of the Writer's Guild Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement

It begins with a monkey. It ends with an inescapable tragedy.

In 1957, Gwendolyn is living the domestic dream as the prized wife of the dashing Dr. Paul Stanley Bollinger, with three beautiful, healthy children and a charming Edwardian home in the historic town of Cape Girardeau.

Enter Eddie, an inebriated monkey brought home as a poker prize by her equally drunk husband. Thus begins Gwendolyn's yearslong struggle to domesticate two unruly fellas. Eddie is a hilarious handful but no match for Paul Stanley and his increasing penchant for bourbon and nurses. Meanwhile, as the predictable 1950s evolve into the increasingly tumultuous '60s and beyond, Gwendolyn finds her conservative beliefs challenged by the realities of racism, homophobia, traditional masculinity, the sexual revolution, and the struggle for women's rights.

For over forty years, a time marked by hilarity, heartbreak, and tragedy, Eddie serves as her clown prince, her unexpected confidant, and when all is said and done, her solace. The story of Gwendolyn and Eddie is ultimately about cages-the ones we are born into, those we construct for ourselves, and the ones we impose on those we love.

Review Quotes

"Seabaugh weaves a narrative that is both intimate and epic, striking notes of humor and tragedy with equal aplomb. Gwendolyn's journey through the decades, accompanied by the inimitable Eddie, provides an incisive exploration of America's constantly shifting social contours. What can you learn about yourself from an alcoholic monkey? It turns out, a hell of a lot. This is a thoughtful and highly entertaining tale." -Alex DeMille, New York Times bestselling author

"Michael Seabaugh has taken all the familiar mid-century themes and turned them into this highly original tale that crackles with fresh insight, Southern humor, and savage irreverence. He has managed to make Gwendolyn's marital trials seem both heartbreaking and hilarious. You can literally feel the gathering quiet rebellion inside Gwendolyn as she attempts to deal with her husband's chronic disloyalty and infidelities. You will not want to put this book down-not only because it is so good, but also because you will want to be there, standing side by side with Gwendolyn, until the very last page." -Linda Bloodworth Thomason, creator of Designing Women, 2024 recipient of the Writer's Guild Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement

"At first glance, this may seem like a delightful tale about a mid-century woman and her mischievous monkey. But Seabaugh, a skilled psychologist, weaves subtle layers of psychological insight into the narrative without ever slowing its lively pace. By the final page, you'll find yourself deeply connected to Gwendolyn-and, of course, the unforgettable Eddie." -David Kirkpatrick, former president of Paramount Motion Pictures

"Original, deftly crafted, laced with irony, humor, and the impact of social changes, Gwendolyn & Eddie is a fun, fascinating, and thought-provoking read from start to finish. Showcasing author Michael Seabaugh's distinctive and narrative-driven storytelling style as a novelist, Gwendolyn & Eddie is a welcome and unreservedly recommended pick." -Midwest Book Review

"Quirky, clever, and ultimately very human, Gwendolyn & Eddie speaks to our universal need for connection and purpose. Seabaugh brings to life a puckish monkey and lets him catalyze both relationships and realizations, compelling his humans to react to the changes that time imposes, including the profound social movements forwarding civil rights, women's rights, and ideas of inclusion. A brilliant novel that engages, provokes clear reflection, and speaks to who we are." -Greg Fields, author of The Bright Freight of Memory, American Writing Awards winner, PEN/Faulkner nominee

"Gwendolyn & Eddie is a great romp of intrigue and hilarity. The novel compels you into the past with riveting color and a fascinating storyline. Seabaugh brings us deep into the psyches of the character and the period of history. Give yourself a delicious weekend read." -Dr. Jennifer Freed, bestselling author of A Map to Your Soul

"Gwendolyn & Eddie perfectly captures, with exquisite insight and vivid writing, the mid-century American Mid-South. The author, Michael Seabaugh, draws a compelling, fast-paced story of that world and the privileged men and women who lived in it. At times devastating, sometimes hilarious, always moving . . . Seabaugh masterfully describes the charm of Southern horse country culture while slowly unveiling the dangerous faults that lurk beneath it." -Marianne Partridge-Poett, editor-in-chief of the Santa Barbara Independent, first female editor-in-chief of the Village Voice