Uncommon Arrangements

Exploring the complexities of marriage, Katie Roiphe examines seven notable unions within the British literary community from 1910 to World War II. Through personal memoirs and correspondence, she reveals the intricate dynamics of relationships, such as Jane Wells' steadfastness despite her husband's infidelities, Katherine Mansfield's tumultuous romance, and the "semidetached" marriage of Vera Brittain and George Gordon Catlin. The narrative also highlights Vanessa Bell's intricate balance between love and duty, alongside Virginia Woolf's insightful observations on these intimate connections.