Some questions to consider if your book club is reading THE SCANDALOUS HAMILTONS

When the Hamilton story emerged, it commanded unprecedented, international newspaper coverage, thanks to the telegraph and the recently founded Associated Press. How did the information technology of the time affect the development of the case? Do you think it would have developed differently in modern times?
The Scandalous Hamiltons includes court records of Robert Ray Hamilton and his involvement with Eva Steele, a grifter who set her sights on his money and stood trial for stabbing their baby nurse. How does the public nature of celebrity court cases that receive extensive publicity make them different from non-celebrity cases?
The story of the Hamilton scandal swept through the nation and became one of the biggest sensations of the Gilded Age, with its captivating story of bribery, sex, and violence. Does this story remind you of any modern-day scandals? If so, how do they compare?
As lurid details emerged from the Hamilton scandal and spread through sensational newspapers, the public's fascination grew. What about this and similar celebrity scandals so intently captures the imaginations of readers? Is it escapism or something more?
Themes of ambition, greed, and obsession are prevalent throughout The Scandalous Hamiltons through the actions of Eva Steele, who was willing to do whatever it took to obtain a fortune. How does the desire for fortune influence an individual’s actions? Are there any lessons we can learn from Eva’s story?
Shaffer weaves together multiple stories that go beyond the pages of newspapers and court documents. How are Robert Ray Hamilton and Eva Steele humanized throughout his account?
Would you have bought a ticket to see “All a Mistake?” Or to see Mary Ann Donnelly at the Globe Museum? Would you have been swept up in the public fascination with Ray and Eva?
Given the legacy of the Hamilton family name, what role, if any, did that legacy play in Ray’s decision-making processes?

Some questions to consider if your book club is reading THE SCANDALOUS HAMILTONS

The story of the Hamilton scandal swept through the nation and became one of the biggest sensations of the Gilded Age, with its captivating story of bribery, sex, and violence. Does this story remind you of any modern-day scandals? If so, how do they compare?

As lurid details emerged from the Hamilton scandal and spread through sensational newspapers, the public's fascination grew. What about this and similar celebrity scandals so intently captures the imaginations of readers? Is it escapism or something more?

Shaffer weaves together multiple stories that go beyond the pages of newspapers and court documents. How are Robert Ray Hamilton and Eva Steele humanized throughout his account?

Would you have bought a ticket to see “All a Mistake?” Or to see Mary Ann Donnelly at the Globe Museum? Would you have been swept up in the public fascination with Ray and Eva?

Given the legacy of the Hamilton family name, what role, if any, did that legacy play in Ray’s decision-making processes?