Richard Marsh
Miss Arnott's Marriage
"Miss Arnott's Marriage" by Richard Marsh is a novel written during the early 20th century. The story centers around Violet Arnott, a young woman grappling with the shame of her husband Robert Champion's conviction and subsequent imprisonment. As she navigates the fallout of his actions, Violet rediscovering her identity underscores themes of shame, societal expectation, and the quest for independence. At the start of the novel, Violet witnesses her husband's sentencing, which leaves her feeling utterly humiliated and alone. As she transitions from being Robert Champion's wife to living independently as Miss Arnott, she confronts her new reality marked by financial strain and societal judgment. The opening chapters introduce additional characters, including Mr. Gardner, a solicitor's clerk, who bears news of a potential inheritance, shifting Violet's prospects dramatically. Her chance encounter with Hugh Morice, a neighboring landowner, hints at evolving relationships in her life, setting up a complex web of emotion as she seeks to escape the shadow of her husband's disgrace.