Maud Newton’s Ancestory Trouble

Dolls of Our Lives

What does your family tree say about you? Maud Newton tackles this question in her new and powerful book, Ancestor Trouble. Through this project, Newton asks probing questions about a number of her ancestors, questioning family myths and stories along the way. Using her talent as a researcher, Newton uncovers the true stories of relatives whose lives were or are complex, fascinating, and at times, troubling. As we go along for the ride, Newton teaches us about genetic genealogy, ancestor worship, and much more. Part memoir, part social commentary, Newton’s book is great to sit with as we head into the holidays.

Trigger warning: We do reference sexual assault and domestic violence in the course of discussing the content of this book.

Original air date: November 23, 2022