The idea for “Naked Came the Stranger” came from Mike McGrady’s disappointment with the current state of literature in America.
YoutubeThe masking ofNaked Came the Stranger
In August of 1969 , the adult female in the hearing of theDavid Frost Showwaited with anticipation for the guest star to appear – Penelope Ashe , a demure Long Island housewife who had just bring out one of the most titillating novels the world had ever seen . It was calledNaked Came the Stranger .
The book . had become a surprise success , selling 20,000 copies within a few months , and expend 13 weeks atop the New York Times Bestseller listing . for discuss her novel , and her newfound celebrity , Penelope Ashe was sound off off a press circuit , starting with theDavid Frost Show .
YoutubeThe cover ofNaked Came the Stranger
So , imagine the audience ’s surprise when Penelope Ashe did n’t show .
or else , a chain of 25 reporter showed up in her place , all but two of them military personnel . The ringleader of the chemical group , Mike McGrady , then pace forward and announced the truth aboutNaked add up the Stranger – that it had been the result of a particularly ho-hum solar day at the office , and had been published as nothing other as a societal experimentation to evidence that above all else , sexuality sell .
Three years prior to the freehanded revelation , Newsdaycolumnist McGrady was dwell in seam , attemptingto take a recently published novel titledValley of the Dolls . According to McGrady , he could n’t get past the first few pages , and was put to sleep by the writing .
YoutubeSome of the writers of “Naked Came the Stranger.”
The next mean solar day , it come to him that he , along with his fellow award - win journalist could for sure get out off the same achiever of the schtickyValley of the Dolls , and perhaps do it even better .
YoutubeSome of the author of “ Naked Came the Stranger . ”
So , he compiled a team of 25 writers , all men apart from two , and sent out an function memo .
YoutubeThe authors of “Naked Came the Stranger” after revealing their identities.
“ As one of Newsday ’s truly salient literary talents , you are hereby formally ask for to become the co - writer of a best - selling novel , ” the memorandum interpret . “ There will be an incessant emphasis on sex activity . Also , true excellency in committal to writing will be cursorily blue - pencil into oblivion . ”
Later he severalize the Associated Press that the idea stemmed from a disgust with the focus that he felt lit was heading in .
“ I was really fed up with people like Harold Robbins and Jacqueline Susann , ” he sound out . “ I attend the writing that was being accepted and it seemed absurd . ”
In the memo , McGrady told the writers that they had a week to posit one chapter each . True to his word , he repay a few of the chapters because they were too well indite . McGrady continue to delete and re - edit passages , take care for the sleaziest , most horribly write ones of all .
“ Faster and faster they commune , ” one passageread . “ finger on tegument , tooth on hide , then great shudders of full communicating , and explosions of understanding . later , Morton articulate , ‘ I ’d forget there was more to life sentence than mop a lawn . ’ ”
good to say that literary merit was sacrificed in the making of this novel .
Though his titillating novel dream were put on hold several time ( once due to the Vietnam War and once due to a fellowship he received , ) by 1969 McGrady had his copy .
YoutubeThe authors of “ Naked Came the Stranger ” after disclose their individuality .
The patch of the 241 - page novel , which they collectively titledNaked come the Stranger , revolve around a woman named Gillian Blake , a Long Island housewife stuck in an dysphoric marriage with her husband , with whom she co - hosted a radio talk show calledThe Billy & Gilly Show .
Upon obtain out that her husband was cheating on her , and unwilling to terminate the talking show , Gillian embarks on her own serial of intimate escapades , getting her retaliation on her hubby for his infidelity by seducing other men and destroying their married couple . Each piece she encounters is more interesting than the next , and eventually , Gillian ’s conquests include a rabbi , a prizefighter , a business executive , a gay piece , and a Frank Sinatra - like mafia balladeer .
The playscript was , perhaps , made even more exciting by the fictional author that McGrady and Co. assign it to . Penelope Ashe , a nom de guerre created by McGrady , was , like her heroine , a quiet , Long Island housewife , who fantasy about living a life-time of passionate , erotic liaison herself but settled for writing about them rather .
McGrady enlisted his baby - in - constabulary to pose for the source photo for the Bible crownwork , which also include a nude exposure of a woman from a Magyar pornography magazine .
After the author ’s true identity was give away , McGrady and his partner in crime assumed that the hype for the novel would die down , but to their surprisal gross revenue rocket . It seemed that the unexpected line of the Scripture made it even more interesting than it had been before .
Since its issue , Naked Came the Strangerhas sell over 400,000 copes , and held 13 consecutive week as a bestseller . Though he was necessitate to , McGrady declined to spell a continuation to the book , though he did publish an instructional manual of arms titledStranger Than Naked : Or , How to publish Dirty Books for Fun and Profit .
Next , check out“The Seven Lady Godivas,”a photo book of raw gentlewoman write by Dr. Suess . Then , take a flavor at these piece of titillating graphics that provepeople have always been fascinated by sex activity .
