logo

52 pages 1 hour read

Grace Metalious

Peyton Place

Grace MetaliousFiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1956

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Grace Metalious

Peyton Place

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1956
Book Details
Pages

384

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

New Hampshire • 1940s

Publication Year

1956

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Peyton Place by Grace Metalious, published in 1956, delves into the lives of the residents of a small New England town, exposing the hidden scandals and complex interpersonal relationships that shape their community. Central characters Allison Mackenzie and Selena Cross navigate societal judgment and personal trauma, as the story explores themes of secrecy, resilience, and identity. Topics include rape, incest, suicide, and abortion.

Dark

Mysterious

Gritty

Melancholic

Reviews & Readership

4.1

14,423 ratings

67%

Loved it

26%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Grace Metalious's Peyton Place has prompted mixed reactions. Positively, critics commend its honesty and daring portrayal of small-town hypocrisy and hidden desires. However, detractors criticize the writing style as sensationalist and the character development as uneven. Overall, it remains a groundbreaking, controversial work that captures the complexities of societal norms.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Peyton Place?

Readers who relish the scandal-laden dynamics of small-town life depicted in works like The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough or East of Eden by John Steinbeck would enjoy Peyton Place. Fans of mid-20th-century American drama with complex, flawed characters and social commentary will find this novel compelling.

4.1

14,423 ratings

67%

Loved it

26%

Mixed feelings

7%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

384

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

New Hampshire • 1940s

Publication Year

1956

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.