The Stolen Marriage by Diane Chamberlain

The Stolen Marriage

by Diane Chamberlain

Step into the formidable world of The Stolen Marriage, an absorbing novel by Diane Chamberlain, painting a vivid portrait of love, betrayal, and uncertainty in a small town.

In 1944, Tess DeMello abruptly trades a promised future with the love of her life for a marriage shrouded in mystery with Henry Kraft in Hickory, North Carolina.

In a town tainted by racial animosity and the heavy burdens of war, Tess's new life is dominated by the enigmatic figure of her husband, Henry. As his inexplicably reclusive nature unfurls, unwelcome secrets emerge, causing Tess to reassess her hasty decisions.

Tess faces the cruel scrutiny of townsfolk following a local tragedy, fuelling fear and speculation. But when polio threatens her newfound home, Tess draws upon her nursing skills, defying Henry to serve her community.

As she unravels the mystery surrounding her husband and the town of Hickory, will she manage to save not only the lives of her young patients but also build a life for herself?

Reviewed by kimbacaffeinate on

4 of 5 stars

Share
Tess, a young nursing student, lives in an Italian community in Baltimore, Maryland and is engaged to a young Doctor. He travels to Chicago to fight a polio outbreak and keeps extending his time there. Depressed and unsure she begrudgingly goes to Washington DC for the weekend with her best friend.  Events that occur there have her breaking off her engagement and marrying Henry Kraft, a furniture maker in rural Hickory, North Carolina. She has married into wealth, and Henry is more than generous, but the people of Hickory are far less accepting. Her marriage isn't a happy one. Henry isn't intimate with her, works odd hours and hides money from her. The townsfolk make it clear she is an outsider. She finds solace when speaking to a local medium and this thread was particularly interesting and touched on magical realism.

Through stubbornness and Henry's understanding, Tess gets her nursing license, but he forbids her to work. As his wife, labor was seen as beneath her station, but when a polio epidemic breaks out, and a hospital is set up in Hickory, Tess soon finds herself working. Here, Tess meets up with the young doctor she abandoned and confesses everything to him. It was fascinating learning more about this epidemic, iron lungs, and these makeshift hospitals. It was heartbreaking, and the story shared both joyful and tearful moments. Chamberlain detailed societies fears and misunderstandings of this epidemic that devoured children and folks of every race and social standing.

THE STOLEN MARRIAGE not only dealt with the polio epidemic, but it shared the pressures of society and racism. We delve into Tess's mistakes and consequences. We explore Southern culture, marriage laws, racism and more. Chamberlain's research is evident, and her eloquent writing styles paint a detailed picture of the climate and characters in 1944. There is romance threaded throughout the story, and I found it touching and surreal. We also get a bit of suspense, regarding Henry's odd hours and hidden money.

This is the type of story that pulls you, connects you to the characters and brings the period to life in vivid color. Each of the characters is flawed and realistic. Chamberlain shines a realistic light on situations these characters faced, allowing the reader to become emotionally connected. She combines the best of fiction and history giving readers a story that will stay with them long after the book ends.

A must-read for fans of historical fiction, diversity, and American history. THE STOLEN MARIAGE ranks among my favorite Diane Chamberlain novels. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 2 September, 2017: Finished reading
  • 2 September, 2017: Reviewed