"Peyton Place" is a novel written by Grace Metalious that was published in 1956. The book is set in a small town in New England and revolves around the lives of its inhabitants, particularly the scandalous and taboo topics of sex, abortion, and domestic violence. The novel caused controversy upon its release due to its explicit content and frank portrayal of these issues, and it quickly became a bestseller. The story follows several characters, including Allison MacKenzie, a young woman struggling to find her place in the town and deal with the secrets and scandals of her family, and Constance MacKenzie, Allison's mother who is trying to protect her daughter and keep her own dark secrets hidden. The book also delves into the lives of other characters, such as Selena Cross, a young girl who suffers abuse at the hands of her stepfather, and Lucas Cross, Selena's alcoholic and abusive stepfather. The novel explores themes of class, gender, power, and social norms, and its success helped to pave the way for more realistic and controversial portrayals of these issues in popular fiction.
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