Edna His Wife – Margaret Ayer Barnes

Signed by Barnes at front flyleaf after half-title before title page. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company in 1935. Dust jacket unclipped. Jacket design by C. Leroy Baldridge.

Full title: Edna His Wife, An American Idyll.

“Edna His Wife” by Margaret Ayer Barnes is a poignant novel that traces the life of Edna Howard, a woman from a modest background who marries into middle-class respectability. The story follows Edna’s journey as she navigates the complexities of her marriage, personal aspirations, and societal expectations in early 20th-century America. Through Edna’s experiences, the novel explores themes of identity, self-sacrifice, and the quest for fulfillment. Barnes’s rich character development and keen social observations paint a vivid portrait of a woman’s resilience and determination in the face of life’s challenges.

Margaret Ayer Barnes (1886-1967) was an American novelist, playwright, and short-story writer. She won the Pulitzer Prize in 1931 for her novel, Years of Grace.