“The Foursome” by Christina Baker Kline is a fascinating novel based on the true story of two North Carolina sisters who married conjoined twins in the 1800’s. (The sisters were actually distant cousins of the author.) The story is told from Sarah’s point of view but gives detailed insight into all four main characters. The novel does touch on intimate details, but does so very tastefully. The sisters and their spouses led a life that was extremely complicated due to the physical connection between the brothers.
Adelaide and Sarah Yates are daughters in a North Carolina family whose marriage prospects are slim due to some past scandal. Chang and Eng Bunker are Siamese twins, joined at the chest, who have decided to settle in the area after traveling the world in a side show. Adelaide is determined to marry Chang, and eventually, Sarah and Eng are convinced to marry as well. The rest of the novel details the sisters’ complicated lives with their husbands, each other, their children and society. The Changs were slave owners, so the Civil War and its aftermath play a big role in this story.
“The Foursome” was a weirdly different read for me and I was very caught up in the story of Adelaide and Sarah. The novel was very well researched and the character development was detailed and definitely showed the differences in personalities between the sisters and also between their husbands. The complicated lives these four people lived was thought provoking. I highly recommend checking out this novel with its unique story!
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