After reading “An Impossible Marriage”, I believe Pamela Hansford Johnson deserved
more recognition as a writer. Although I’m unfamiliar with her other works, this novel is
undoubtedly a significant contribution to literature.
The story revolves around Christine, a young girl forced to mature after her
mother’s death. Disenchanted with Leslie, her innocent boyfriend, Christine yearns for
something more; someone she doesn’t know. Her friend Iris, whom she describes as
extraordinarily beautiful and childlike, struggles with existential crises as well.
Christine, seeking escape from Leslie, becomes infatuated with Ned, a middle-aged
man with a quirky nature. As their relationship unfolds, Christine and Ned get married,
but their life together isn’t what Christine expected. Ned manipulates Christine, taking
advantage of her innocence.
Christine strives to make her marriage successful, but the same feeling of escape that
led her to leave Leslie resurfaces. Will she transform into the person Ned wants her to
be, or will she leave him to rediscover herself? This novel is a prime example of realism, with the author’s vivid descriptions and attention to detail making it a worthwhile read. The character descriptions, particularly Iris’, are splendid.
However, some sections become tedious due to excessive, unnecessary details,
causing the reader to lose interest. Fortunately, the descriptions of characters and
Christine’s critical thinking remains engaging. Given the novel’s age, sexual content is limited, reflecting the societal values of the time. Nonetheless, the friendship between Iris and Christine hints at lesbian undertones, as Christine is drawn to Iris, and Iris consciously presents herself as an object of attraction.
I recommend it to female readers, as they may appreciate the novel’s feminist perspectives and the well-crafted female characters.
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