The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post: A Novel

Oh, gosh. I just love historical fiction sometimes. And this book is one of those times. It was a joy learning about the inception of the Post cereal company, about the heir of the company, MMP, and the times in which she lived. It was fun reading about the circles in which she traveled, her literal travels, the ways in which she used her wealth, and the properties she designed and built.

Ann's pick. 👍🏻 Historical fiction on the richest woman in America.

An epic story of the rise of women's rights and responsibilities to family and humankind. This story follows the life of Marjorie Post and the elements in the world that impacted her life, her love life, and her love for life. Just so very well done!

What an amazing woman and life.

I loved this book! The journey of her life was so interesting and I love that all the events were real. I admired her resilience to push through hard times and her charitable attitude during good times. However, Ms. Post was grinding my gears a few times. Despite her savvy business sense, she had terrible luck with men. All I kept thinking was "stop getting married!!!!" I get the first and second husbands - young love and not knowing what you want/need but after #2 being such a disaster and her being extremely rich already without a husband, why would she risk what she worked for to marry again?? Even with a wealthy man, she had so much to lose and she already had children so I don't get it. I guess she still had hope for love, which I can't blame her for. At the end of her life I think she realized that her friends and her daughters were all that she truly needed to feel fulfilled. Maybe she subconsciously knew that and that's why she married Herbert, because he was gay and she thought of him more as a friend anyway. I felt bad for her still because she clearly felt betrayed by him even though she admits she may have suspected it. I found her involvement in the world wars very interesting and inspiring. I love how she used her fortune to find ways to help America instead of hoarding it all for herself and staying in her upper class bubble. But I also like that she enjoyed her fortune! She knew how to spend that money and I think I would be the same way! I've also been watching Downton Abbey and a documentary about WWII and everything was lining up at the same time with the book so it was really fun to learn more about those times. Fun fact: Glenn Close is Edward Close's great niece (Ed Close's brother is her dad).