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The John Batchelor Show

S8 Ep583: WEISBERG4.mp3 Weisberg discusses the evolution of divorce in New York, noting a significant increase during the Gilded Age. The scandal influenced novelist Edith Wharton, Mary’s cousin, who later wrote about these social circles. Additionally, the diary o

The John Batchelor Show

John Batchelor

Society & Culture, Arts, News, Books

4.52.8K Ratings

🗓️ 15 March 2026

⏱️ 13 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

WEISBERG4.mp3 Weisberg discusses the evolution of divorce in New York, noting a significant increase during the Gilded Age. The scandal influenced novelist Edith Wharton, Mary’s cousin, who later wrote about these social circles. Additionally, the diary of George Templeton Strong serves as a vital historical window. (4)

Transcript

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0:00.0

Call my wife.

0:01.6

Calling UK Wildlife.

0:03.6

Voice assistance not working for you.

0:05.7

BlackRock Investment Trust has a lot working for you.

0:08.2

Get to know them at blackrock.com.

0:10.0

Capital at risk. Marketing material.

0:11.4

BlackRock Investment Management UK Limited.

0:13.0

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

0:20.0

This is CBS Night in the World. I'm John Batsworth with Barbara Weisberg. Her new book is Strong Passions, a scandalous divorce in old New York. Edward's gone to war. Mary and Peter now mourn the death of their daughter. January 2nd, there's a notice in the newspapers that Elizabeth is gone. Maybe and Ellie are healthy, but Elizabeth is gone.

0:40.9

In their grief, they console each other.

0:44.4

And then, Barbara, Mary comes forward to Peter and tells him what?

0:51.8

She hurls herself at his feet and says, you can't imagine how guilty I have been.

0:57.4

For the last 18 months, I've been having an affair with Edward, your brother. And Peter is, of course, stunned, horrified grief stricken.

1:10.8

A few weeks later, he meets with him. stunned, horrified grief stricca.

1:18.9

A few weeks later, he meets with his father-in-law, the distinguished banker John Austin Stevens,

1:25.9

who tells John Austin Stevens.

1:29.3

John Austin Stevens doesn't believe it. He says, you're making this up.

1:34.6

You're just so heart sick about the death of your daughter. You've gone a little crazy.

1:43.2

And Peter says, talk to Mary. She'll tell you the truth. And so John Austin Stevens meets with Mary.

1:50.8

And as he later will say, Mary says to him, it's true father, every word.

2:01.7

Now, there's one more, I don't know, there is one more catch here, which is shortly after Mary confesses to Peter that she's been having an affair with Edward,

2:13.3

she also tells Peter that she is pregnant. And whose baby is it unclear? And this created.

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