Marnie is the novel by Winston Graham that inspired the classic Alfred Hitchcock film, starring Tippi Hedren and Sean Connery. An intriguing crime novel of an attractive blonde who is deemed above reproach, as her tightly wound plans slowly unravel around her.
Charming and efficient, Marnie has had several jobs around England, most lasting a few months. Time enough to gain trust before cleaning the company safe out. She simply moves on to a new town with a new name. A compulsive liar and unscrupulous thief, she tells herself it's a need as well as the thrill since the money is to properly care for her mother, who thinks her an executive secretary. Her new job is run by two brothers, each attracted to her. She rebuffs Terry, but Mark is persistent. Her mistake comes when she is clearing out the safe at her new job by Mark himself. Rather than charge her, he decides to use his attraction and blackmail her into marriage. Offering differing stories of her past, he doesn't really know her but is willing to help, to save her from her self destructive behaviour. Giving her everything she wants doesn't seem to tame her either, as she cannot stand to be touched - indeed is physically repulsed - turning away from his irrepressible lust. Her only respite is winning at the odd poker game with friends, especially her brother in law Terry.
Slowly enough that she thinks she can still control her dual lives - the thieving gambler and the woman in chains - the hidden pieces of her life are revealed and she becomes caught in a vindictive trap.
This is a crime classic, with suspense and a sense of dread throughout. Compact with a punch. I would think the psycho-sexual undertones are better suited to the novel and the dark ending isn't what the cinema goers wanted to see in 1961. I've read that as a reader we should hate her as much as she hates herself, but for me, she is simply a fascinating and complex character.
Winston Graham is best known for writing the classic adventure series Poldark, which again in 2016 was a huge hit on TV.
Highly recommended.
1961 / Tradeback / 391 pages
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