Helena’s late author Hugh Ambrose had his most recent book “LIBERATED SPIRITS: Two Women Who Battled Over Prohibition” posthumously published on October 16, 2018.
Son of prominent historian Stephen E. Ambrose, Hugh Ambrose famously wrote “The Pacific: Hell Was an Ocean Away,” which later became an HBO miniseries.
“LIBERATED SPIRITS: Two Women Who Battled Over Prohibition” follows the lives of two extraordinary women, wealthy socialite Pauline Sabin (anti-Prohibition) and Assistant Attorney General Mabel Willebrandt (a zealous enforcer), who emerged on the political scene soon after women’s suffrage.
Ambrose passed away in 2015 at the age of 48 to cancer while working on the novel.
The novel was finished by consulting historian John Schuttler, who served as Ambrose’s research assistant on the novel.
Schuttler was compelled to finish the story after Ambrose’s widow Andrea spoke with him the day after her husband’s funeral.
“Hugh was within months of finishing this book before he passed,” said Andrea Ambrose. “I can’t put into words how it feels to see this. It was Hugh’s intense desire to finish this book.”
“It’s just so wonderful this day has come for the release of this book and you know I’m just so grateful to have this legacy for my children Elsie and Brody,” added Ambrose.
Ambrose and Schuttler hosted a book talk on October 18 at the Montana Club in Helena, which included special guest Governor Steve Bullock.
“It was wonderful to have Steve speak about his friendship with Hugh, it meant a whole lot,” said Ambrose.
“LIBERATED SPIRITS: Two Women Who Battled Over Prohibition” is available on Amazon and at Montana Book and Toy Co. while copies are available.
All of Hugh Ambrose and Stephen E. Ambrose works can be found at the Lewis and Clark Library.
Story by John Riley, MTN News
