Caro Claire Burke's 'Yesteryear' Becomes Bestseller, Sparks Cultural Debate

Caro Claire Burke's debut novel 'Yesteryear' has become a literary phenomenon, selling 1.4 million copies and spending 17 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, peaking at No. 1. The book, published by Knopf on April 7th, follows a trad-wife influencer who wakes up in 1855, exploring themes of American fantasy, misinformation, and the performance of womanhood. Burke, a former associate editor at Katie Couric Media, sold the novel in a twelve-way auction for a reported low seven figures, with Amazon MGM Studios acquiring film rights and Anne Hathaway attached as co-producer and star. The book has sparked intense discourse, including backlash and speculation about Hathaway's involvement, which Burke denies. Burke, who grew up conservative in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, experienced a political awakening after living in an Airstream with her husband and reading Marxist theory. She credits TikTok for giving her a platform to share her opinions, which led to the book's concept. Burke is now pregnant and working on her second novel, which she says will not feature trad wives. The interview covers her writing process, the book's structure, her views on feminism and the trad-wife movement, and her experiences on tour, including emotional responses in Salt Lake City and bemused reactions in the UK.