Mrs. Post, the President and First Lady are here to see you. . . .
So begins another average evening for Marjorie Merriweather Post. Presidents have come and gone, but she has hosted them all. Growing up in the modest farmlands of Battle Creek, Michigan, Marjorie was inspired by a few simple rules: always think for yourself, never take success for granted, and work hard—even when deemed American royalty, even while covered in imperial diamonds. Marjorie had an insatiable drive to live and love and to give more than she got. From crawling through Moscow warehouses to rescue the Tsar's treasures to outrunning the Nazis in London, from serving the homeless of the Great Depression to entertaining Roosevelts, Kennedys, and Hollywood's biggest stars, Marjorie Merriweather Post lived an epic life few could imagine.
Marjorie's journey began gluing cereal boxes in her father's barn as a young girl. No one could have predicted that C. W. Post's Cereal Company would grow into the General Foods empire and reshape the American way of life, with Marjorie as its heiress and leading lady. Not content to stay in her prescribed roles of high-society wife, mother, and hostess, Marjorie dared to demand more, making history in the process. Before turning thirty she amassed millions, becoming the wealthiest woman in the United States. But it was her life-force, advocacy, passion, and adventurous spirit that led to her stunning legacy.
And yet Marjorie's story, though full of beauty and grandeur, set in the palatial homes she built such as Mar-a-Lago, was equally marked by challenge and tumult. A wife four times over, Marjorie sought her happily-ever-after with the blue-blooded party boy who could not outrun his demons, the charismatic financier whose charm turned to betrayal, the international diplomat with a dark side, and the bon vivant whose shocking secrets would shake Marjorie and all of society. Marjorie did everything on a grand scale, especially when it came to love.
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I had no idea who Marjorie Post was before reading this book. When I came across The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post at my library, I didn’t know what to expect since it was my first book by the author. The summary and the book's cover caught my attention enough to check the book out. Within the few sentences of the book, I knew that I had made the right choice by picking this one out. I love historical fiction, and I have read a few this year. The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post is unlike any other historical fiction that I have read so far. Marjorie Post life fascinated me, she was such a strong and dedicated woman. Marjorie went through so much, and yet she accomplished so much. This story kept me way past my bedtime on several occasions, wanting to see what would happen next. I felt as if I was there beside Marjorie for most of the book. What a fascinating life!
I love when books are written in timelines. When the books are written in timelines, especially historical fiction, it’s as if I am going on the journey along with the characters. The Magnificent Lives Of Marjorie Post was a never-ending journey, and I couldn’t get enough. A part of me didn’t want to reach the ending because I didn’t want the story to end. It was fascinating how it all started and kept going after Marjorie’s dad had passed away. But then, just when you assumed that you could put the book down, there was a twist that you didn’t see coming. This book had a few of those, and I loved every single one of them. I wish I had discovered this author earlier; her writing is breathtaking. I could feel the emotion of each character. It’s one of those books that I couldn’t explain all the feelings, even if I tried. It was magnificent.
Even though Marjorie was successful, she didn’t have as much luck with love. It seemed as if every time she married, she ended up heartbroken in the end. Her first husband, Edward Close, I had a bad feeling about him from the start. I felt as if he had asked her to marry him too fast. I couldn’t help but wonder if he ever loved her. He didn’t even seem to want to support most of her ideas but managed to brush them off or argue with her. Although, among all her husbands, I believe that Joseph loved her the most, I think he changed during World War II, which eventually destroyed their marriage. I was rooting for her to find her happily after. I strongly feel that I will be returning to The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post in the future; I still can’t seem to get the book out of my mind. Once I finished the book, I researched the real Marjorie Post because I got curious about her. This story will stay with you long after turning the last page.
An Inspiration.
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