The Marriages is a novel by the American author Henry James, first published in 1891. The story revolves around the lives and relationships of several characters, primarily the Pembroke family. The patriarch, Mr. Pembroke, is a wealthy and influential man who has arranged marriages for his three daughters, each to a man of his choosing. The eldest daughter, Gertrude, is married to a wealthy banker named Mr. Brand; the middle daughter, Charlotte, is married to a French count named Mr. de Coucy; and the youngest daughter, Bessie, is engaged to a young American businessman named Mr. Vanderbank.As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that each of these marriages is fraught with tension and unhappiness. Gertrude is unhappy in her loveless marriage and begins to have an affair with a young artist named Mr. Moreen. Charlotte is deeply in love with her husband but is constantly reminded of their class differences, which causes her great distress. Bessie, meanwhile, is torn between her loyalty to her family and her growing feelings for Mr. Vanderbank.Throughout the novel, James explores themes of love, marriage, class, and social convention. He also delves into the psychology of his characters, examining their innermost thoughts and motivations. The Marriages is a complex and nuanced work of fiction that offers a deep and insightful look into the human experience.When she knocked at his door late in the evening he was regularly not in his room. It was known in the house how much he was worried; he was horribly nervous about his ordeal. It was to begin on the 23rd of June, and his father was as worried as himself. The wedding had been arranged in relation to this....This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
This book is part of the Short Stories/Novellas series and is book #56 in the series.