BARBARA SOUTHARD: UNRULY HUMAN HEARTS
Lust, infidelity, and betrayal centered the historically famous Beecher-Tilton adultery trial where Theodore Tilton, his wife Elizabeth Tilton, and Reverend Henry Ward Beecher are exposed for their extramarital affairs, embodying the new 19th century concept of “free love.” In her historical fiction debut, “Unruly Human Hearts” (She Writes Press, January 28, 2025), debut author Barbara Southard brings life to the one voice unheard throughout the infamous case–the adulteress herself.
During the Reconstruction era, the Beecher-Tilton adultery trial made headlines and shocked the nation. Elizabeth Tilton, the woman at the center of it all, is often portrayed as a passive victim of the scandal, but Barbara Southard proposes a different story–one where Elizabeth is the author of her own life. Using her skills as a historian, Barbara Southard’s emotional novel explores the impact that sexual revolutions have had on women, the challenge of upholding personal convictions in private life, and the power of finding your voice in a world that wants you to be silent.
Elizabeth Tilton, Theodore Tilton, and Reverend Henry Ward Beecher were 19th-century reformers who embraced liberal ideas, including “free love.” When Theodore confessed to an extramarital affair, Elizabeth expressed her feelings for Beecher, entangling them in a complicated love triangle marked by desire, jealousy, and the fear of public scandal. As Elizabeth’s passion for Beecher tested the moral boundaries of her time, she faced difficult choices that could cost her everything. In a society ready to condemn the slightest deviation from the strict code governing female behavior, she struggled to find her voice and define her own truth.
Barbara Southard grew up in New York City, holds a PhD in history from the University of Hawaii, and has served as a professor of history, Chairperson of the History Department, and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies at the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico. She is the author of a book on Indian history, “The Women’s Movement and Colonial Politics in Bengal, 1921–1936,” and has also published numerous articles in history journals. Barbara has also published short stories in literary journals, and she is the author of “The Pinch of the Crab,” a collection of ten stories set in Puerto Rico, exploring social conflicts of island life, mostly from the female perspective. Barbara has also been active in raising funds for the Shonali Choudhury Fund of the Community Foundation of Puerto Rico, helping local community organizations working to protect women from domestic violence. She does this work in honor of her daughter, a public health professor who died of a brain tumor. You can find more information about Barbara on her website: https://www.barbarasouthard.com/.
