First published 2013
George Howe Colt weaves together personal memoir and historical investigation as he examines how brothers shape each other's lives. He alternates between exploring his own relationship with his siblings and studying famous brother pairs throughout history. Colt investigates the Thoreau brothers, the Van Gogh siblings, and the Marx brothers, among others. He searches for patterns in these complex relationships while reflecting on his own family dynamics. The book moves between intimate family memories and broader historical analysis. Colt seeks to understand how brotherhood creates both deep bonds and lasting conflicts. His investigation reveals how siblings influence identity, ambition, and life choices. The author offers readers insight into one of humanity's most fundamental relationships through both personal reflection and historical examination.
Genres: history, family, 20th-century, non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family
Period: 19th-Century, 20th-Century, 21st-Century
663 pages · Hardcover · Thorndike Press