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The Commune is a comic satire and roman a clef that takes us inside the Hamptons commune populated by the newly liberated women present at the creation of the seminal 1970 Women's March for Equality. The Commune’s pioneering feminists can talk the talk, but find themselves whipsawed between the bold new ideals of the women’s movement and the powerful tug of the past – and therein lies drama.
Praise for The Commune
"A joyous literary romp with hidden depth." –Kirkus (Starred Review) (Read Full Review)
"Erica Abeel’s sharp, witty, delightfully twisty novel The Commune goes behind the scenes of the women’s movement circa 1970, shedding light on hidden history in a way that is both moving and inspired." –Dawn Raffel, The Strange Case of Dr. Couney
“The Commune, Erica Abeel’s sparkling, inventive take on the beginnings of the Women’s Movement, is astute and hilarious at once." –Hilma Wolitzer, Today a Woman Went Mad in the Supermarket: Stories
"Erica Abeel is at her scathingly funny best in this deeply thought provoking gem. You’ll never look at the Hamptons quite the same way again." —Erica Heller, author/memoirist
“Erica Abeel is a wickedly funny writer.“ –Joyce Wadler, journalist and former reporter for The New York Times
“This slyly funny, well-crafted tale offers a tell-all view of the second wave feminists who forever changed society over a summer in Betty Friedan’s notorious Hamptons commune. Along the way Abeel skewers the Hamptons as only an insider could." – Steven Gaines, Simply Halston, Philistines at the Hedgerow
“THE COMMUNE is a really funny satire on the liberal elite. You certainly put them in their place!” – Dr. Nijole Kudirka, psychotherapist and photographer
"Erica Abeel’s hilarious romp travels inside Betty Friedan's Hamptons commune as its members plan what will become the historic Women's Strike for Equality of August 26, 1970. The self-seeking of these luminaries is LOL funny and the Hamptons elite comes in for a wicked drubbing. And who could resist a heroine in hot pants who longs to be a communard while secretly pursuing the Wedding Plot? Abeel captures the comic ironies of women who created a social revolution yet remain hostage to a more traditional past. I love this witty, rambunctious novel. What a ride!" —Thelma Adams, author of the novel The Last Woman Standing and film critic
"And while we’re on the subject of feminist history… Novelist, former dancer, scholar, and critic Erica Abeel’s forthcoming novel THE COMMUNE — based on an actual commune full of major feminists (including Betty Friedan) in glamorous East Hampton — fictionalizes the internal conflict of 1970 feminists between life with and without dependence on men. Says Dawn Raffel ("The Strange Case of Dr. Coney"), “Erica Abeel’s sharp, witty, delightfully twisty novel THE COMMUNE goes behind the scenes of the Women’s Movement circa 1970, shedding light on hidden history in a way that is both moving and inspired. These women (and men) are so compellingly drawn that I want the book not to end." –Sheila Weller, Saturday Evening Post
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