From Washington Heights to Washington D.C. comes a true American Herstory. Filled with intrigue, lust, and betrayal, this is the fight for sexual equality.1868, on the eve of the Gilded Age: Spiritualist TENNESSEE CLAFLIN is smart, sexy, and sometimes clairvoyant. But it’s her sister, VICTORIA WOODHULL, who is going to make history as the first woman to run for President of the United States.It … President of the United States.
It starts with the seduction of the richest man in America. Next, they’ll take New York City and the suffragist movement by storm, because together, Tennessee and Victoria are a force of nature. Boldly ambitious, they stop at nothing, brushing shoulders with Harriet Beecher Stowe and Susan B. Anthony, using enough chutzpah to make a lady blush.
That is, until their backstabbing family takes them to court, and their carefully spun lives unravel, out in public and in the press.
“Unsexed!” – New York Herald, 1872
“Short Haired Women and Long Haired Men.” – New York World, 1872
“Nothing More Than A Shameless Prostitute and A Negro.” – The Guard, Eugene Oregon, 1872
Told from shifting points-of-view and using actual news reportage from the era, Naked Truth is a riveting inside look into the struggle for women’s rights after the Civil War.
“Sometimes it is not enough to be the news, sometimes you have to make the news as well.” –James Gordon Bennett, Jr., Proprietor of the New York Herald
Perfect for book clubs and fans of historical fiction.
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Sisters Tennessee and Victoria are a force to be reckoned with. They’re talented at the clairvoyant racket. They’re in need of money and put together a plan of seducing a very rich man. Little do they know, these sisters are about enter the world of politics complete with scandal, jealousy, passion, lies and the suffragist movement. Their ambition propels them forward and anyone standing in their way soon learn to get out of their way or they’ll get steam-rolled. But when treachery comes from within their family circle, their dirty laundry is hung out in the press for all to see. Can they make history and change the presidency, or will they crumble in defeat?
Naked Truth or Equality, the Forbidden Fruit is a brilliant telling of a part of women’s history no one talks about. Filled with historical people everyone remembers from history class (Frederick Douglas, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Cornelius Vanderbilt, just to name a few), Carrie Hayes adds such depth and humanity to these characters, they leap from the pages. The societal paradoxes these sisters deal with on a consistent basis are still common today. Women are viewed in a certain way and when they don’t fit the mold, they are labeled in negative stereotypes. Carrie Hayes carries the reader back in time with actual news articles and clippings. This added such vibrancy to the plot which I enjoyed immensely. The plot itself moved at a smooth pace with plenty of conflict and intrigue. The emotional subtext buried under the storylines gripped my heart. Such brave women and I applauded their every move. A mesmerizing emotional story every woman needs to read. Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I read this on Kindle Unlimited.
My Rating: 5 stars
Very believable, like being a witness to the best actions and the actions that would likely not happen nowadays.
I must admit, I didn’t know much about Victoria Woodhull or Tennessee Claflin before I dove into Naked Truth. If this describes you, too, don’t let that stop you. Not only will your eyes be opened wide to the incredible story of these sisters and life in New York City in the late 1800’s, you will swear the author must be 180 years old and a childhood friend of theirs because how else could she write with such authenticity, authority and nuance? I was completely immersed in this fast-moving, audacious, courageous, scandalous, and inspiring story. The writing is nothing short of masterful! Can’t wait for the sequel . . .
A deep dive into the imagined intimate lives of people who are footnotes in American history, especially Tennessee Claflin. Timeless (unfortunately) themes of women’s equal rights ever out of reach, and the differing fates of men and women. A glimpse at Wikipedia suggests there is much more material for a sequel!
“Individual sovereignty and enduring love are not mutually exclusive. Not at all.” This story about two sisters who refused to give up their personal sovereignty in spite of society’s insistance shows just how ahead of their time they were. Most women I know today aren’t even like that over a hundred years later.
Thus it is remarkable that the story takes place shortly after the American Civil War. I enjoyed this seemingly unbelievable story so much I read it through twice – mostly because I was over halfway through before I began to grasp the characters were actual historical people. I had to go back and see how I’d react knowing they were not fictional.
I’d never heard of Tennessee Claflin or Victoria Woodhull before reading this novel. At first, I thought they were fictional as well because their lives were so incredibly colorful it didn’t seem possible. These two sisters refused to be boxed in by their gender at a time when few, if any, other women dared do what they did.
Their accomplishments are told with fictional flare by Carrie Hayes. She put them in a historical context and had a lot of fun filling in the blanks with all manner of adventurous exploits that seemed all too believable considering the women involved. It was a fun way to learn about these two remarkable women.
The story line was terrific, the character work was fantastic and the book had a fairly smooth flow to it. This was a good read and a great mix of fact and fiction. I look forward to more from this author.
I won a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
I enjoyed reading Naked Truth, especially during Women’s History Month, as a reminder of the long path of struggle for equal rights for women. A path we are still traveling. The adventurous spirit and courage of Tennessee Claflin defines the early movement. A well-written book that calls for the reader’s deep engagement. Bravo to Ms. Hayes on her first novel.
A compelling, riveting, book set in the post-Civil War era, “Naked Truth” is a wonderful women’s fiction/literary historical novel. The novel is well rooted in historical fact, and what a glorious job author Carrie Hayes does with the facts as she spins a well-written, captivating story.
The novel contains many names and events we might remember from our history books—President Grant, Buffalo Bill, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Frederick Douglas, and more. Yet, the focus is on two bigger-than-life, ahead-of-their-times real historical sisters: Tennessee Claflin and Victoria Woodhull. Together, they opened the first female brokerage firm in NYC, ran a progressive newspaper, advocated for women’s voting rights and free love, and Victoria ran for president in 1872 (well before women could vote) with Frederick Douglas as her VP, making them the first female/black presidential ticket. They each had a tumultuous love life, with several marriages and affairs. The novel does not shy away from some of their shady practices, but one can’t help but cheer for the sisters—or at least be fascinated by them.
The backstories of the sisters’ childhood in the book are often heartbreaking. The sisters had to transcend a snake-oil conman father and an illiterate religious fanatic mother, abuse, and abject poverty to become powerful women in their own right.
Carrie Hayes excels in her rich prose and crafts a fast-paced, delightfully entertaining book, which is also educational. Filled with descriptive details that put the reader right in the story, and delightful phrasing, this book is an amazing read. Excerpts from letters and newspapers add to the authenticity of the story.
As I was curious to see how much of the story was fact, I did some research, and Hayes’ own research appears deep and impeccable.
Just an excellent book and I am glad I found it.
https://www.amazon.com/Naked-Truth-Equality-Forbidden-Fruit-ebook/dp/B083F492T5/
Thank you HFVBT for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Naked Truth: or, Equality,
the Forbidden Fruit
By: Carrie Hayes
REVIEW
Women know, have always known, this world is a man’s world. Say what you will, fight all you want, but it is nearly impossible to change a belief so deeply entrenched in the minds of so many. Still, it’s nice to know that a few brave women throughout history chose to fight back-with gusto.
Naked Truth is based on the true story of sisters Tennessee Claflin and Victoria Woodhull. Beginning in 1868, author Carrie Hayes incorporates actual newspaper clippings, journal entries, etc. to breathe life into her characters. Formidable and fierce, Tennessee is a sometimes clairvoyant, and Victoria is the first woman to run for president, before she even had voting rights.
Ambitious, provocative, unafraid, independent-all characteristics of a wonton female-assigned by men to any woman who dared step out of the defining box of her existence. Tennessee and Victoria boldly took on the world, and the world fought back in ugly ways. I applaud their efforts, and admire their fortitude. This is a fascinating story that should be read widely. Some parts are difficult and uncomfortable to read because of the situation and subject matter involved.
Carrie Hayes examination of the lives of Tennessee and Victoria is meticulously researched, insightful and unflinching. This story is profoundly powerful and at times, deeply disturbing, as it reveals human nature in light of self preservation. Women have, and always will, endure unspeakable atrocities. But, those few, like Tennessee and Victoria, are shining beacons for all, setting an example.
Naked Truth is an unflinching portrait of sisters Tennessee Claflin and Virginia Woodhull in post Civil War America. With a past as clairvoyants and healers, they use what skills they have to scrabble out a fortune and carve out a path through various levels of society. Audacious and determined, the sisters set out to seduce a Carnegie while at the same time warning him of syphilis, then leverage the fortune they amass to become brokers and publish their own newspaper, force their way into the forefront of the suffragette movement, and even run for President.
Whether championing self sovereignty or dealing with the realities of the philosophy of Free Love, these were women more modern than social mores allowed and author Carrie Hayes brings them – along with a litany of well-known figures – to life along with their triumphs, tragedies, schemes, scandals, and betrayals. This is an engrossing look at two ambitious women from history, written in a no-nonsense style that never jars the reader with authorial flights of fancy, consistently remaining grounded in the reality of these unconventional, ambitious women from history.
Recommended with a note that this may be a difficult read for some, not in small part due to the lack of consent that was allowed by law.
This review refers to a finished copy I voluntarily read, a positive review was not required and these are only my own, honest opinions.
I found Naked Truth very engaging and interesting from the first page. With wonderful pictures, newspaper cartoons and snippets from articles scattered throughout the book, the story of the Claflin sisters was very interesting. Based in historical facts, the author has skillfully written a story of what might have been in their personal and professional lives during that period in history. For Victoria Woodhull to take on the women’s suffrage movement, run for President of the United States, become a stock broker and run a newspaper would be incredible for one person to tackle even at this time in history. I loved reading more about the ups and consequently downs of these undertakings. Very strong women with a mission to be accomplished no matter what.
I received a free copy and voluntarily provided this review.