Author and former New York Times writer Margalit Fox to speak at CSM’s Great Conversations

OMAHA, Neb. – History, non-fiction and mystery writer Margalit Fox will speak at College of Saint Mary’s (CSM) annual Great Conversations book club author series April 4. 

Fox will discuss her most recent book, “The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum.” which paints a vivid portrait of Gilded Age New York—a city teeming with nefarious rogues, capitalist power brokers and Tammany Hall bigwigs, all straddling the line between underworld enterprise and “legitimate” commerce. Combining deep historical research with the narrative flair for which she is celebrated, Fox tells the unforgettable true story of a once-famous heroine whose life exemplifies America’s cherished rags-to-riches narrative while simultaneously upending it entirely. 

A luncheon and program will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Happy Hollow Club. Doors open at 11 a.m. A book signing will take place after the event. 

“Great Conversations is a way to connect with alumni and friends through the shared experience of reading and discussing a female-centered novel,” said Maria Main, director of annual giving and events. “This year's author, Margalit Fox, tells the story of a Jewish immigrant woman who became one of the best in her field, despite it being primarily dominated by men. As an all-women's college, this story is a true and inspiring testament to the female experience and the strength and determination of women.” 

Great Conversations began in 2004 when Kathy Simon, a former CSM board member, donor and book lover, suggested the idea. Simon selects the featured author each year. 

As a senior writer for the New York Times’s celebrated Obituary News Department, Fox wrote many front-page stories on well-known cultural figures, including Betty Friedan, Maya Angelou and Ann Landers. 

Before joining the obituary department, Fox was the staff editor at the New York Times Book Review.  

Fox received the Front Page Award from the Newswomen’s Club of New York for feature writing and beat reporting, and the Poynter Institute named her one of the six best writers in the Times’s history. 

In addition to “The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum,” Fox is the author of “The Confidence Men,” “Conan Doyle for the Defense: The True Story of a Sensational British Murder, a Quest for Justice, and the World’s Most Famous Detective Writer,” “The Riddle of the Labyrinth: The Quest to Crack an Ancient Code” and “Talking Hands: What Sign Language Reveals about the Mind.” 

The cost of the event is $50. Register at csm.edu/events/great-conversations.