I had selected this chapter, as the first I was intending to make public, because I saw in it behavior my mother had received from her mother; that I heard about from my mother in the most telling manner. It was thrown at me, with the same vehemence she describes as it coming from her mother. 

I have retyped it: available here. It is now much easier to read. I suppose it gives me hope that its 900+ pages might someday have a more public future. That, of course, depends on me extracting from it a story more universal than that which Peggy tells. 

Later, with the help of observations from one of the TC-Descendant Newsletter readers, I saw that in one – not so short – chapter, Peggy had laid out a case for three generations of abusers passing some of the same phrases forward. 

If this weren't a story of a famous novelist prior to her fame – note Peggy's reference to the production of "Dynasty of Death" with its pages accumulating in far Rockaway – likely no one would find it of interest. Except maybe me and a few others who know me. 

Yet, there are ingredients in this 60 page chapter that touch on big themes – by the way, not the most compelling, as Peggy did eventually improve as a writer, and also got far closer to TC than she was here – for which I now give four. My intention is to contemplate these themes considerably more. 

First: As the reader to whom I am referring suggested, what exactly is the mindset of someone who is abused, who recalls vividly the hateful abuse, and yet ends up replicating it with great venom? The phenomenon is so well-known, that it transcends a likely truth: "No two abusers are exactly alike." 

Second: The famous novelist, with surpassing talent is able to create images of great feminine attractiveness, charm, intelligence, care [put your own glowing adjective here]. Yet, despite Peggy's attempts to fathom TC, and very much wanting her succor, attention and solicitation, she is unable to find any such Taylor Caldwell virtues. 

Yes, TC is smart, wily, cunning. Yet, these descriptions, as the manuscript progresses, fade into selfish, needy, and eventually heartless. Certainly heartless is appropriate for what TC shows towards both her children. 

Third: For a moment, a reader can only take my word on this. The 3 generation abuse stopped. None of my siblings nor I showed such abuse toward our children or spouses. I say this of myself, even though I can point to attributes of mine that clearly – at least in mannerism – imitate those of my parents, mostly my mother. 

Fourth: There is much to say on the distinction between my mother (Peggy) and TC. To say that TC was immensely tougher, and more resilient than my mother, is a high order magnitude understatement. 

TC was a success (albeit complicated) and in some eyes less than she deserved. Yet, success is rare – despite hearing about it so often in the press – and it often ends badly. Yes, that was the case with TC, as Peggy's autobiography documents. What stands out for Peggy is that she never could rely on anyone, with any power, to whom she could go for support. Despite her hope in this chapter that her husband represented that, we children could see easily that he did not. 

Even more so, Peggy's dark haughtiness, and defensive rejection drove her children away. She sometimes needed them to show the world she was a mother.  For example, on the trips she eventually took with TC on the Rotterdam. Yet, other than that she cared little to see them.  

This is not a summary of Peggy's autobiography. Nor do I give a review of "The Romance of Atlantis," today's offering – from TC and Jess Stearn available for $2.99 at Amazon and Apple and Barnes and Nobel.