When Frank Leslie, founder of the Leslie Publishing House and Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, the first of its kind to provide up close and personal graphic images in its features, died in 1880, he left his wife, Miriam (“Mrs. Frank Leslie”), with astounding debts and lawsuits. Betsy Prioleau’s Diamonds and Deadlines: A Tale of Greed, Deceit, and a Female Tycoon in the Gilded Age tells the story of publishing magnate Miriam Leslie, who, against all odds after her husband’s death, resurrected the once profit-laden publishing house to miraculous results. Within a year and a half, Miriam won the court battles, repaid her debt, and increased the circulation of Leslie publications exponentially. Edith Wharton fans who appreciate Wharton’s shrewd business tactics and publishing acumen will enjoy this lively biography about Miriam “Frank” Leslie who, among many of her daring acts, legally changed her name to her deceased husband’s and became...

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