Burlington: Dangerous Characters: A Conversation with Elizabeth Allen
Schedule
Wed, 06 May, 2026 at 07:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
89 Church St, Burlington, VT, United States, Vermont 05401 | Burlington, VT
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History buffs and true crime enthusiasts, this one’s for you! Vermont historian Elizabeth A. Allen tells the story of Vermont’s most notorious murder in her new book, Dangerous Characters: The Life and Crimes of Williston’s Notorious Outlaw Duo. Phoenix Books is delighted to celebrate the release of Elizabeth’s book with her in our Burlington store!Elizabeth A. Allen lives, writes, edits, and makes history in Chittenden County, Vermont. She seeks out untold stories, bringing them to life with meticulous research, empathetic depiction, and clear, engaging prose. She has won numerous grants and a fellowship for her historical research, which she has published in local newspapers, historical society newsletters, Vermont History, Ephemera Journal, and OutHistory.org. Dangerous Characters is her first Vermont history book. She is currently researching the history of Out in the Mountains, Vermont's monthly GLBTQ newspaper between 1986 and 2007, and writing a book about queer history in Vermont.
About the book: Do you know the full story behind Williston, Vermont’s most sensational murder, the 1865 killing of Sally Griswold? Learn all the details in this comprehensive true-crime account of Delia and Charlie Potter and their alleged exploits, from murder to robbery, debt evasion, draft desertion, counterfeiting, bootlegging, and more. Dangerous Characters pulls together previously overlooked sources to portray the Potters and the Griswolds, two families shattered by abuse, inheritance, and greed. The Gold Rush, out-migration, temperance activism, and ambivalence about the Civil War all play a role. This engaging and meticulously researched story will appeal to lovers of local history, true crime, and family drama.
Tickets are $3.00 per person. Your ticket is also a $3.00 off coupon for Dangerous Characters! Coupon expires at close of business on event date.
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Where is it happening?
89 Church St, Burlington, VT, United States, Vermont 05401Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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