PINJARRA, Australia
H.C. Douglas takes readers back to a time when young women's fates were decided by the men in their lives, showing them how a "Marriage of Convenience" (published by Xlibris AU) can profoundly affect people. Douglas displays the sheer inertia of familial and societal expectations and the unexpected actions of those who would defy the plans that have been made for them.
The narrative follows James Douglas, the husband in the arranged marriage; his overbearing and controlling aunt Matilda, the woman who has planned out his future for him; and Agnes Weir, the girl Douglas 'bought.' The young woman was bartered against her father's debt in a deal done against the pleas of her mother. She feels that she is being married solely to produce heirs for her prospective husband. She was looking for love in the marriage, but believed that she was equivalent to one of his brood mares.
The story unfolds in Scotland, during a time when there was a distinct difference between social standings. It shows how the couple keeps confusing each other, James' acts of defiance against his aunt's planning and how Agnes deals with the circumstances forced upon her by those in power.
With this novel, Douglas portrays the hardships people face when they are placed in arranged marriages and how the practice is still prevalent to this day.
"MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE"
By H.C. Douglas
Hardcover | 6 x 9 in | 170 pages | ISBN 9781503502468
Softcover | 6 x 9 in | 170 pages | ISBN 9781503502451
E-Book | 170 pages | ISBN 9781503502444
Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble
About the Author
H.C. Douglas was born in Scotland in the 1930s. She migrated to Australia with her young family in 1962. Her early years in Australia included working with a well-known institution that cared for Aboriginal children. She served as the head chef of a commercial kitchen and then ran a private catering company for several years. She enjoys painting, pottery, and in particular, writing - she has won a number of awards and accolades, including publications of poems and short stories, and the production of several plays. She also worked as the volunteer in charge of a charity shop. Having retired in December 2010, her focus has now returned to her pet interest: writing.
Xlibris Publishing Australia, an Author Solutions, LLC imprint, is a self-publishing services provider dedicated to serving Australian authors. By focusing on the needs of creative writers and artists and adopting the latest print-on-demand publishing technology and strategies, we provide expert publishing services with direct and personal access to quality publication in hardcover, trade paperback, custom leather-bound and full-color formats. To date, Xlibris has helped to publish more than 60,000 titles.For more information, visit xlibrispublishing.com.au or call 1800 455 039 to receive a free publishing guide. Follow us @XlibrisAus on Twitter for the latest news.
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