The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post, by Allison Pataki (2022)
I didn’t know that much about Marjorie Post other than she was the Post cereal heiress and had Mar-a-Largo built as her winter escape.
In this novel, based on her life, the 4-time married and divorced heiress comes across as a wealthy name-dropper more interested in her enormous wealth than her husbands. She came from humble beginnings, although by the time she was a teenager, her father had established the Postum Cereal Company, and she lived a life on great wealth. Although she had three daughters, her daughters barely play a role in the novel.
Her first husband, whom she married as a teenager, was Edward Bennett Close. They divorced after 14 years. Her second husband was E.F. Hutton, of the stock brokerage firm. Together they expanded her company which ultimately was renamed General Foods Corporation.
Her third husband was Joseph E Davies. He was a lawyer and diplomat who served as Ambassador to represent the United States in the Soviet Union after Stalin came into power. It was during this period that Post acquired scads of Russian art, including works by Fabergé. He was later sent to Belgium and Luxembourg during World War II. In the novel, Marjorie is portrayed more concerned about her art and money than her husband being near the War front.
After the War, Marjorie spends millions of dollars building a home to showcase all her art. She loves to throw parties and have people fawn over her. She is also very proud of her jewelry, which the book references on every other page. Although Marjorie is considered a philanthropist, the novel doesn’t focus as much on her philanthropic efforts as it does her spending habits on homes, jewelry, and art.
If the real-life Marjorie Post is anything like the Marjorie portrayed in this novel, she really wasn’t the type of person I would want as a friend.
I had previously read Sisi: Empress on Her Own, also by Allison Pataki. That novel was about Empress Elizabeth of Austria-Hungary, wife of Franz Joseph I of Austria. I loved that novel and looked forward to reading about Marjorie Post. It didn’t live up to my expectations.
Read: September 20, 2023
2 Stars
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