When a Man Marries

“When a Man Marries” by Mary Roberts Rinehart is a humorous novel likely written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around complicated social interactions and mishaps in a dinner setting that is intended to be festive but quickly spirals into chaos due to misunderstandings and peculiar circumstances. The protagonist, Kit, finds herself at the center of these troubles, forced to juggle her relationships with other characters like Jimmy Wilson, his ex-wife Bella, and a Japanese butler named Takahiro, all while navigating the absurdities of their social circle. The opening of the book sets the stage for a comedic whirlwind. It begins with Kit expressing her frustration over being blamed for a disastrous dinner event that she organized but could not control due to unforeseen incidents, including the unexpected arrival of an aunt and a lost butler. Kit reflects on the various characters' quirks, particularly Jimmy, whose attempts at seriousness are often undermined by his jovial nature. As the narrative unfolds, readers are introduced to Bella's jealousies and Jimmy's lingering affections, alongside the mounting tension of a mysterious illness impacting the household, culminating in a series of events that hint at further chaos and humorous entanglements ahead. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Mary Roberts Rinehart was an American writer, often called the American Agatha Christie. Rinehart published her first mystery novel The Circular Staircase in 1908, which introduced the "had I but known" narrative style. Rinehart is also considered the earliest known source of the phrase "the butler did it", in her novel The Door (1930), although the exact phrase does not appear in her work and the plot device had been used prior to that time. She also worked to tell the stories and experiences of front line soldiers during World War I, one of the first women to travel to the Belgian front lines.