David O. Stewart
THE BABE RUTH DECEPTION, a historical mystery, grew out of my wish to visit American in the early 1920s when women got the vote, shortened their skirts, cut their hair and kicked up their heels while everyone suddenly wanted to drink alcohol since Prohibition made it illegal and bootlegged stuff tasted better (as long as it didn't kill you). Looking for someone who embodied this time of exuberance and excess, Babe Ruth was the one. The story focuses on the Babe's first two years as a New York Yankee, 1920-21, when he reinvented baseball, smashing home runs at a rate that no one ever thought was possible. But the Babe also had a powerful taste for the night life, which can get a fellow in trouble, the kind that makes a great story. I discovered that the Babe made a feature-length movie during the 1920 season ("Headin' Home")that was bankrolled by a gangster who was the right hand man of Arnold Rothstein, who happened to be the racketeer and gambler who fixed the 1919 World Series by bribing the Chicago White Sox to throw the series. THAT gave me a great foundation for a story featuring my continuing heroes, the square Dr. Jamie Fraser and Speed Cook, an angry ex-ballplayer who was the last person of color to play professional baseball in the 1880s. It was a hoot to write, and readers have enjoyed it --
More Answered Questions
Jennifer Jones
asked
David O. Stewart:
Because I read Impeached directly following Team of Rivals, I thought I had a decent grasp on Seward. Why do you think he was so supportive of Johnson? I understand that he felt the South should be dealt with liberally, but I'm more than a little surprised he didn't feel the need to protect the Southern blacks and Unionists more. It makes me wonder if his assassination attempt impacted his actions somehow.
David Stewart
asked
David O. Stewart:
How much research goes into your historical novels, like THE BABE RUTH DECEPTION?
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