The life of Gitty, a young woman from New York high society who could not move from one room to another without an escort, will be the focus of a talk taking place at The Field Library on May 30. Miss Gitty 1860: Romance and Adventures in Old New York, written by local author Maureen McElheron, tells the story of a woman who challenged the strict social expectations of her time in search of independence, love and a life of her own.
The event will begin at 1 p.m. in one of the library’s meeting rooms. There, McElheron will discuss the origins of her first novel and the process of building a story set in New York before the Civil War. The program will last at least an hour and a half and will include a question-and-answer session.
The protagonist, Gertrude “Gitty” Tredwell, is connected to the Merchant’s House Museum in Manhattan, one of the city’s best-preserved historic homes. Drawing from that real historical figure and the rigid environment in which upper-class women lived during the 19th century, McElheron builds a narrative centered on Gitty’s desire for independence and the social limits imposed on women of the era.
In an interview published on the blog of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, the author explained that the inspiration for her novel came from her experience volunteering at the Merchant’s House Museum, where she worked as a guide. In that historical setting, which preserves the daily life of a 19th-century family, the author became interested in the young woman’s story.
According to the story, the daughter of the family who owned the house fell in love with an Irish doctor against her father’s wishes. From that context, McElheron developed her work of fiction. She will share details about the creation of the book during Saturday’s talk, which is free and open to the public.
The event does not require advance registration and is part of the library’s cultural programming aimed at connecting authors with readers. In a previous edition of the program, local author Ed Friedman presented his work I Will Not Be Ignored in a public conversation and reading format.
For more information about the author talk or any other event organized by the library, interested residents may visit The Field Library website or call 914-737-1212.
