Rose B. defied mid-century expectations of what a woman could be and do. Not only a devoted wife and mother, and one never to be seen without gloves and a hat, she was the family’s main breadwinner. Exemplary, indeed—although in private, Rose suffered her charismatic, volatile husband’s abuse, abuse witnessed by their twin daughters, Claire and Frances. Frances urged Rose to divorce, Claire played mediator, and Rose persevered, determined to preserve her family, even if at cost to herself. But a violent incident one spring evening would upset Rose’s plan and propel Frances to a life far from her parents and sister.

Decades later, Claire’s a reclusive high school art teacher who creates beautiful photographs but never exhibits. Frances is an architect in Los Angeles. Rose has died, and Frances has flown home to help Claire sort through their mother’s clothes. Claire, insisting that Frances is their mother’s mirror image, one that she must capture, asks Frances to pose for her as Rose, dressed in Rose’s clothes. Frances, wanting to force a discussion of that long-ago violent spring evening, agrees, but on one condition: She’ll tell stories as she poses, stories about Rose. Told in two voices—that of the dynamic, conflicted Frances and the tender, diffident Claire, who has her own stories about Rose—The Vanishing of Rose B. explores the difficulties mothers and daughters encounter in defining themselves within the world and against each other.

Nancy Garruba is a writer, artist, and long-time DC resident. At one time a rare book conservator at the Library of Congress, she went on to study bookmaking history, book design, and the making of artist’s books—her writing combined with visual images. She’s the recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the DC Commission on the Arts, and of awards from the American Institute of Graphic Arts. Her artist’s books Skin of Glass and Not Altogether True Not Altogether False are in collections including the Museum of Modern Art, Art Institute of Chicago, Eastman Museum, and the International Center for Photography, among others. The Vanishing of Rose B. is her debut novel.

Susannah George is a Washington Post national security and foreign affairs correspondent based in Washington DC. For over a decade she has reported from some of the most consequential international stories of the day, from the rise and fall of the Islamic State in Iraq to the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and Iranian influence across the Middle East in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks. Before joining the Washington Post Ms. George was a correspondent for the Associated Press and a producer for National Public Radio.

If you’d like to purchase this title online and still support People’s Book, follow the link below:

https://bookshop.org/a/88548/9781947175778

This is an in-person event. Seated capacity at People’s Book is 50 patrons. Standing room is an option. All events are first-come, first-served seating. Accessible seating is always available.