New Manchester, N.H. Generation Immerses Itself in "Peyton Place"
"Manchester, N.H. -- The city will fully embrace one of its most famous native daughters with a series of events next month marking the 50th anniversary of the publication of 'Peyton Place.' Grace Metalious' novel was an instant sensation in the fall of 1956. It quickly sold millions of copies and captivated the nation with its peek behind the curtains of life in a small New England town.
"The book, which was spun into a 1957 movie and a hit television series in the 1960s, has sold more than 20 million copies, remains in print and has become one of the nation's cultural touchstones.
"Last night, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen unveiled a list of events, sponsored by a grant from the New Hampshire Humanities Council, throughout April that will be dedicated to examining not only Metalious and her work, but why the material continues to sell and resonate with readers. Mayor Frank Guinta proclaimed the novel Manchester's selection for this year's 'One Book, One City' program, a national initiative in which mayors 'assign' citizens a book to read.
"In his proclamation, Guinta called the novel 'a cultural phenomenon that forever shattered fixed notions of life in a small New England town.' A coalition of local groups, including the school district, the Manchester Historic Association, the city library and the University of New Hampshire-Manchester have mapped out the month-long celebration. The attention is expected to drum up renewed local interest in Metalious' most famous work, so the city library has stocked about 30 copies of 'Peyton Place.'
