Northshire Bookstore Event: John Seabrook on “The Spinach King”

(Manchester Center, VT) On Friday, September 5 at 6:00 pm, Northshire Bookstore will host author and journalist John Seabrook to discuss his latest nonfiction work, The Spinach King,  a fascinating saga of his own family’s history that was listed as a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice.

“Having left this material for his writer son, my father must have wanted the story told, even if he couldn’t bear to tell it himself.” So begins the story of a forgotten American dynasty, a farming family from the bean fields of southern New Jersey who became as wealthy and powerful as aristocrats—only to implode in a storm of lies.

The patriarch, C. F. Seabrook, was hailed as the “Henry Ford of Agriculture.” His son Jack, a keen businessman, was poised to take over what Life called “the biggest vegetable factory on earth.” But the carefully cultivated facade—glamorous outings by horse-drawn carriage, hidden wine cellars, and movie star girlfriends—hid dark secrets that led to the implosion of the family business.

At the heart of the narrative is a multi-generational succession battle. It’s a tale of family secrets and Swiss bank accounts, of half-truths, of hatred and passion—and lots and lots of liquor. The Seabrooks’ colorful legal and moral failings took place amid the trappings of extraordinary privilege. But the story of where that money came from is not so pretty. A compulsively readable story of class and privilege, betrayal and revenge—three decades in the making—The Spinach King explores the author’s complicated family legacy and the dark corners of the American Dream.

“John Seabrook wryly details the rise and fall—and Oedipal struggles—of his family’s farming empire… This is a tremendous tale.” — John Gapper – Financial Times

“Who knew that a family empire built on frozen vegetables could produce a tale worthy of Faulkner…. as rich a tale about a troubled dynasty—and father-son relationships—as you will read this year.” — Jim Kelly – Airmail

JOHN SEABROOK has been a staff writer at The New Yorker for more than three decades. The Spinach King is his fifth book. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

For more information on this or other events, email events@northshire.com, or visit the Northshire Bookstore website at www.northshire.com.

Northshire Bookstore, originally founded in 1976, has locations in Manchester, Vermont and Saratoga Springs, NY as well as at Northshire.com. Our large but intimate general bookstores carry the largest selection of categories and genres including new & used fiction, history, cooking, arts and rare author-signed editions. We also have entire floors devoted to Children’s Books and toys, a full line of stationery, magazines, music, cards, calendars, locally-sourced foods and many fine gifts from clothing to jewelry. Open to the public daily from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM and 24/7 online with free shipping at www.northshire.com