Written by David McMullan
Peggy is a fictionalized portrait of Peggy Guggenheim who began as a New York heiress to become one of the most influential women in 20th Century Art. Through first person narrative, Godfrey captures Guggenheim’s journey from a sheltered Jewish family of wealthy industrialists, to her life in Europe as one of the preeminent art collectors of her time. Along the way we see Peggy defy the expectations of her family and society to live a life on her own terms. Guggenheim’s story leads her to Paris in the 1920’s and reads like a who’s who of prominent figures of art, literature and politics of the 20th Century. She was romantically involved with playwright Sammuel Beckett, married to surrealist artist Max Ernest, and patron to American Anarchist Emma Goldman.
Ten years in the making, the novel Peggy was sadly Rebecca Godfrey’s last as she passed away before its release. Prior to her passing Godfrey worked with her friend Leslie Jamison to finish the novel while preserving her vision. The novel ends with Peggy Guggenheim in her Venice home in 1958 (which is now a museum where you can see her collection). Upon finishing the novel one is left with a fascination with Peggy Guggenheim and a sense of regret that the novel and the author’s story ends so early.
If you are interested in learning more about this novel and its author you can watch a panel discussion at Innis College on YouTube: