I've Married Marjorie

"I've Married Marjorie" by Margaret Widdemer is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story centers around Marjorie Ellison, a young woman who is grappling with her emotions as she navigates her new life as a war-bride after her husband, Francis Ellison, returns home from service. Throughout the book, themes of love, fear, and the pressures of societal expectations are explored as Marjorie comes to terms with her marriage and her feelings towards her husband. The opening of the novel introduces us to Marjorie's internal conflict as she contemplates the arrival of her husband, who has been away during the war. Initially excited by the spring weather and the prospect of Francis's return, Marjorie feels overwhelming anxiety and sorrow when faced with the reality of their marriage. This anxiety is intensified by the moment of his arrival, where her initial warmth and excitement are met with the unsettling feeling of being with someone she hardly knows. The narrative captures Marjorie's emotional turmoil as she struggles with the expectations placed upon her as a wife and the unfamiliarity of her husband, revealing the profound impact of war on personal relationships and identity.