This Is the Story of a Happy MarriageRecommendations

Ann Patchett, author of State of Wonder, Run, and Bel Canto, investigates her deepest commitments — to writing, family, friends, dogs, books, and her husband — in This is the Story of a Happy Marriage, which blends literature and memoir to create a riveting image of a life.

This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage immerses us in Ann Patchett's real-life environment. It spans her life from infancy to the present, from a catastrophic early marriage to a later happy one, and touches on a wide range of issues, including family and friend connections, the hard labor and delight of writing, and the unexpected excitement of starting a bookshop.

Ann Patchett puts into foreground the huge experiences and tiny moments that have influenced her as a daughter, wife, and writer as she reveals stories of the people, places, values, and art to which she has stayed irrevocably dedicated.