Karen Abbott

Karen Abbott tells the true story of four women—a socialite, a farm girl, an abolitionist, and a widow—who risked their lives to become spies during the Civil War.

Burlesque dancers then and now take a cue from Gypsy Rose Lee, the most famous burlesque performer ever. This vaudevillian, stripper, writer, and actress garnered fans as diverse as Harry Houdini and Eleanor Roosevelt. A new biography by Karen Abbott, called "American Rose: A Nation Laid Bare, The Life and Times of Gypsy Rose Lee," chronicles the burlesque dancer's life--and puts her popularity into historical context.

Karen Abbott tells the story of America’s coming-of-age through the life of vaudeville performer, Gypsy Rose Lee. Her latest book, American Rose: A Nation Laid Bare: The Life and Times of Gypsy Rose Lee, delves into Gypsy’s world, including her dramatic triangle relationship with her sister, actress June Havoc, and their formidable mother, Rose.