Lady Be Good received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Pamela Hamilton.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
Lady Be Good was published on March 31, 2021.
What’s the book’s first line?
Dorothy Hale stood at the window, sixteen floors above Central Park South.
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Lady Be Good is a coming-of-age story about Dorothy Hale, the legendary 1930s socialite immortalized in one of Frida Kahlo’s most celebrated paintings. At the dawn of the 1920s she and her confidante, Clare Boothe Luce, break from conventions of high society to achieve success on their own terms and find themselves at the center of dangerous political intrigue. They’re remarkably beautiful, smart, determined women who forge their own identities as they rise to the upper echelons of New York society and to fame. They seem to have it all. But behind the public façade they contend with their tempestuous friendship, epic disappointments, and tragedy. It’s a story of love, betrayal, resilience, and living your dream.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
Many years ago, I moved into the Manhattan high-rise where Dorothy lived (and died), but I had never heard of her. Then I came across an article about Frida Kahlo’s portrait of Dorothy Hale; she’s wearing a black “Madam X” gown, falling from a window of my building. The brief account of her life intrigued me; she seemed to be a dynamic woman and was surrounded by the iconic figures of her time. But the explanations for her death seemed contrived—I had a visceral response to it. As a network news producer and curious person, it was only natural to do some research and find out if there was more to the story. Every step of the way I would uncover a new fact, or new acquaintance, that drove me deeper into research.
Hale and Luce were fascinating women. I found their transformation, struggles, and victories remarkable, and it sparked a lot of emotions. The public accounts about Dorothy aren’t accurate; her real story is far more interesting, so I felt as though I’d found a hidden gem of a story. Spending those many years researching and writing kept me in an era that I had always been drawn to—it was a time of extraordinary art, design, and literature, a time of incredible creative and cultural combustion. Irresistible.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
The story of Hale and Luce is one of courage and living life fully and fearlessly. They define the modern woman. It’s both an adventure with the glitterati through the 1920s and 1930 and an intimate view into the hearts and minds of two women as they navigate careers, marriage, and the Gilded world. I’m enraptured with the process of examining a characters’ life experiences and seeing the world through their lens. Ultimately, it’s an exploration of the human condition.
During research and writing, I came to know Hale and Luce well. I think many of us can recognize aspects of their personalities that we aspire to and ones that we wouldn’t want to see in ourselves. Renee Zellweger said in an interview about her film Judy that she fell in love with Judy Garland while preparing for the role and I understand that feeling— I feel the same way about Hale and Luce. They’re dynamic, witty, compelling people— ambitious, vulnerable, strong, sensitive, and very different from one another. One of the joys of writing is when you think you know how the narrative will unfold but the characters lead you in a new direction; they say things that surprise you, they take on a life of their own.
The story also takes us behind the Gilded curtain of the 1920s Smart Set, “Polite Society,” which perhaps doesn’t always live up to its name. It captures the struggles women faced; the incredible glamour, fashion, and grandness of the time; and American culture at a pivotal moment in our history. Researching the characters and the time, and writing the novel, took me on a great adventure through the era. Lady Be Good is filled with drama, tragedy, romance, and high times, and a good dose of humor.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
I did extensive research on Dorothy Hale and Clare Boothe Luce (and the other historical figures in the book), and it was a delight—they’re complex characters. For me, what stands out the most about Hale is her fortitude, courage, and ability to overcome adversity with grace. In her 33 years, she had dramatic, heart wrenching setbacks. She also enjoyed a charmed life, a lavish lifestyle, great happiness, and success. Frida Kahlo’s portrait of her depicts a tragic beauty; but in her life she was indomitable. Clare’s most distinctive trait, in my view, is her clever mind and ability to conquer her lofty goals, of which she had many. Creating their characters and writing dialogue was an absolute joy—I lost all sense of time. I hope readers will feel deeply connected to them and experience a wide range of emotions.