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The Marriage of Anna Maye Potts
A novel of profound and humane realism, The Marriage of Anna Maye Potts tells the story of a 36-year-old Philadelphia woman whose quiet, working-class life is suddenly shaken by the death of her widowed father and by her younger sister’s takeover of the family home.
Forced out of the house she has lived in for years, Anna Maye Potts proves to be a person of mettle and integrity, but only gradually does she come to realize her own strength. At the chocolate factory that employs her, she draws closer to a longtime co-worker named Louie, a man twenty years her senior. Louie has his own problems: alcoholism, a wife dying of cancer, a retarded daughter, and a penchant for adultery. His wife’s death leaves him anguished and baffled. Sharing his feelings with Anna Maye, he asks her out, and they begin to contemplate a life together.
Once they are married, however, Louie is reluctant to grant Anna Maye the place in his life that his first wife had occupied. Anna Maye must then take charge, persuading Louie to bring his daughter home from the state school in which he has placed her and to commit himself to their future. Uncertainties remain, but Anna Maye has by this point achieved her own spiritual triumph.
In his first novel, DeWitt Henry displays an extraordinary gift for portraying ordinary lives. His narrative touch is deft; his eye for the telling detail is unerring. The Marriage of Anna Maye Potts signals the emergence of an outstanding talent.
The Author: A respected editor, essayist, and short-story writer, DeWitt Henry teaches at Emerson College in Boston and was the founding editor of the literary magazine Ploughshares, for which he received a Massachusetts Commonwealth Award. He has published five anthologies, most recently Breaking Into Print: Early Stories and Insights into Getting Published (A Ploughshares Anthology), Fathering Daughters: Reflections by Men (with James Alan McPherson), and Sorrow’s Company: Writers on Loss and Grief.
Forced out of the house she has lived in for years, Anna Maye Potts proves to be a person of mettle and integrity, but only gradually does she come to realize her own strength. At the chocolate factory that employs her, she draws closer to a longtime co-worker named Louie, a man twenty years her senior. Louie has his own problems: alcoholism, a wife dying of cancer, a retarded daughter, and a penchant for adultery. His wife’s death leaves him anguished and baffled. Sharing his feelings with Anna Maye, he asks her out, and they begin to contemplate a life together.
Once they are married, however, Louie is reluctant to grant Anna Maye the place in his life that his first wife had occupied. Anna Maye must then take charge, persuading Louie to bring his daughter home from the state school in which he has placed her and to commit himself to their future. Uncertainties remain, but Anna Maye has by this point achieved her own spiritual triumph.
In his first novel, DeWitt Henry displays an extraordinary gift for portraying ordinary lives. His narrative touch is deft; his eye for the telling detail is unerring. The Marriage of Anna Maye Potts signals the emergence of an outstanding talent.
The Author: A respected editor, essayist, and short-story writer, DeWitt Henry teaches at Emerson College in Boston and was the founding editor of the literary magazine Ploughshares, for which he received a Massachusetts Commonwealth Award. He has published five anthologies, most recently Breaking Into Print: Early Stories and Insights into Getting Published (A Ploughshares Anthology), Fathering Daughters: Reflections by Men (with James Alan McPherson), and Sorrow’s Company: Writers on Loss and Grief.
282 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2001
19 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 18, 2022
Reading DeWitt Henry’s The Marriage of Anna Maye Potts brought home for me once again why literary fiction has always been my genre-of-choice: the opportunity to fully experience someone else’s life in a meaningful way, someone I care deeply about.
The novel opens with a day-in-the-life chapter of Anna Maye’s workday routine at Manville’s chocolate factory in Philadelphia–from leaving the house at 6:00 a.m. to wait for the bus to dreading the hot, crowded bus trip home at the end of the day.
What I found particularly effective about this opening chapter was how it played against expectations and stereotypes. Thirty-six-year-old Anna Maye is not some old maid wasting her life away in a dead-end factory job. She enjoys the routine and takes pride in her work. She feels at home there:
“She would let herself in through the front door with her own key; stand for a moment in the dark office vestibule, smiling–because there were familiar differences in temperature and atmosphere and smells that meant the factory to her, and because at once she felt confirmed, secure.” (p. 2)
The above quotation is a good example of Henry’s adroitness throughout the novel at conveying a character’s emotional state through the use of narration. It takes a very skilled hand to pull this off without disengaging the reader. The other narrative approach that struck me was the use of cataloging and the omission of definite and indefinite articles toward the end of the book to drive the narrative forward and add tension.
The initial day-in-the-life chapter also sets us up for the pivotal role the concept of home will play in Anna Maye’s life and the lives of the other major characters in the novel. Anna Maye has never had a home of her own, first living in the family home with her parents, remaining there to care for her father, then sharing the house with her sister, who now wants Anna Maye out. When the candy factory is sold, Anna Maye’s place in the world is further disrupted and thrown into question. Her responses to these events leads to her gradual transformation–a transformation that does not come easy.
The other point-of-view character is Louie, one of Anna Maye’s coworkers at the candy factory. Louie’s grip on his home is also precarious. He is a womanizer and an alcoholic, his wife is dying of cancer, and his developmentally-disabled daughter is becoming increasingly difficult to handle. Louie begins to confide in Anna Maye, and a friendship develops, ultimately leading to marriage after his wife dies. Louie is far from a sympathetic character–his behavior on their wedding night broke my heart–so allowing the reader to enter his point of view from the outset was critical for the success of the novel.
After marriage, Anna Maye’s settling into a home of her own also does not come easy–but in the end, Anna Maye and Louie are not the same people they were when the novel opened, and I was able to close the book with a smile and leave them to their lives.
My final thought on The Marriage of Anna Maye Potts is how offended I was at other reviewers’ description of the characters as “ordinary.” Who are they–who am I–to judge Anna Maye’s life “ordinary”?
The novel opens with a day-in-the-life chapter of Anna Maye’s workday routine at Manville’s chocolate factory in Philadelphia–from leaving the house at 6:00 a.m. to wait for the bus to dreading the hot, crowded bus trip home at the end of the day.
What I found particularly effective about this opening chapter was how it played against expectations and stereotypes. Thirty-six-year-old Anna Maye is not some old maid wasting her life away in a dead-end factory job. She enjoys the routine and takes pride in her work. She feels at home there:
“She would let herself in through the front door with her own key; stand for a moment in the dark office vestibule, smiling–because there were familiar differences in temperature and atmosphere and smells that meant the factory to her, and because at once she felt confirmed, secure.” (p. 2)
The above quotation is a good example of Henry’s adroitness throughout the novel at conveying a character’s emotional state through the use of narration. It takes a very skilled hand to pull this off without disengaging the reader. The other narrative approach that struck me was the use of cataloging and the omission of definite and indefinite articles toward the end of the book to drive the narrative forward and add tension.
The initial day-in-the-life chapter also sets us up for the pivotal role the concept of home will play in Anna Maye’s life and the lives of the other major characters in the novel. Anna Maye has never had a home of her own, first living in the family home with her parents, remaining there to care for her father, then sharing the house with her sister, who now wants Anna Maye out. When the candy factory is sold, Anna Maye’s place in the world is further disrupted and thrown into question. Her responses to these events leads to her gradual transformation–a transformation that does not come easy.
The other point-of-view character is Louie, one of Anna Maye’s coworkers at the candy factory. Louie’s grip on his home is also precarious. He is a womanizer and an alcoholic, his wife is dying of cancer, and his developmentally-disabled daughter is becoming increasingly difficult to handle. Louie begins to confide in Anna Maye, and a friendship develops, ultimately leading to marriage after his wife dies. Louie is far from a sympathetic character–his behavior on their wedding night broke my heart–so allowing the reader to enter his point of view from the outset was critical for the success of the novel.
After marriage, Anna Maye’s settling into a home of her own also does not come easy–but in the end, Anna Maye and Louie are not the same people they were when the novel opened, and I was able to close the book with a smile and leave them to their lives.
My final thought on The Marriage of Anna Maye Potts is how offended I was at other reviewers’ description of the characters as “ordinary.” Who are they–who am I–to judge Anna Maye’s life “ordinary”?
January 17, 2022
I enjoyed this book very much. The characters were all well-drawn and I was especially captivated by Henry's skill in adding details that vividly defined a place (and time -- the 50's) in a variety of settings: a candy factory, a suburban NJ home, a Phillies game, the YWCA, a home for Special Needs children. Hairpins, bowling nights, cellophane wrappers, the "icebox," ham with raisin sauce, face powder and girdles, a china cocker spaniel figurine and driving while drunk.
June 2, 2024
This was a really sweet story and I surprised myself by how much I enjoyed it. I may have missed what year it was set but I'm guessing it was 40s/50s. Anna Maye lives a life of routine - her passion is her work at the candy factory.
But her routine is disrupted and she is forced into a new way of living.
The characters were great, for the most part - Anna's sister a bit of a caricature .... The writing style was not for me, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment. It certainly wasn't bad, just wasn't my preference.
*2024 version is a re-release
But her routine is disrupted and she is forced into a new way of living.
The characters were great, for the most part - Anna's sister a bit of a caricature .... The writing style was not for me, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment. It certainly wasn't bad, just wasn't my preference.
*2024 version is a re-release
August 17, 2008
Top notch novel!
May 15, 2024
I learned of this book through a post extolling it by a writer whose work and judgement I respect. It was difficult finding a copy of it in the UK, but Edelweiss Press let me have a version to read.
It’s one of those books that lives in your head long after you’ve finished reading. It tells the story of Anna Maye Potts whose sister and family move in with her now that the elderly father she’d been caring for has died. The book doesn’t depend on startling, dramatic events; the charm, tension and fascination come from the ordinary, day-to-day happenings and decisions that might happen to any of us. What is remarkable is the way the author takes you deep into the character of Anna Maye until she’s as real to you as members of your own family.
She is a woman of meticulous detail and control, finding the rhythm of her life through the smooth running of the stable confectionery company that has been her life since she left school. She connects naturally with children, despite having none of her own, and is resented by her sister whose jealous focus on lifestyles leads to friction.
Changes at work create a tipping point where Anna’s life threatens to come off its familiar tracks. She finds people difficult to understand and there’s a sentence that sums things up in “She wanted to be home, safe in her own room; she was tired of people and unpleasantness”.
Later, after a terrifying occurrence in a hostel, Anna analyses her situation. “I’m not like this. I’m not pathetic. I’m a plain, single woman who stayed at home instead of marrying, and now I’m alone, but I’m no different than thousands of others, my troubles are no different. And they are scared too, but still they learn, and still they matter to themselves, and so do I; I don’t need to beg. I don’t need pity. It’s my troubles, they’re mainly, they’re in me. It’s for me to face, and not ask others what I can only ask myself”. It’s this natural narrative that spoke to me and gave me real insights into Anna’s thoughts and interpretations of the world around her.
The other characters in the book, like Anna herself, are distinctive and complex. There are no angels and devils, just humans with all their foibles, mistakes, hopes and regrets. Louie is the one who comes to play the biggest role in her life and the author’s realisation of this brash, assertive, flawed, insecure man is also a superb achievement.
This is a thoughtful, profound and moving book, but it isn’t all doom and gloom. It was a gripping and satisfying read and one that I know I will return to again sometime.
It’s one of those books that lives in your head long after you’ve finished reading. It tells the story of Anna Maye Potts whose sister and family move in with her now that the elderly father she’d been caring for has died. The book doesn’t depend on startling, dramatic events; the charm, tension and fascination come from the ordinary, day-to-day happenings and decisions that might happen to any of us. What is remarkable is the way the author takes you deep into the character of Anna Maye until she’s as real to you as members of your own family.
She is a woman of meticulous detail and control, finding the rhythm of her life through the smooth running of the stable confectionery company that has been her life since she left school. She connects naturally with children, despite having none of her own, and is resented by her sister whose jealous focus on lifestyles leads to friction.
Changes at work create a tipping point where Anna’s life threatens to come off its familiar tracks. She finds people difficult to understand and there’s a sentence that sums things up in “She wanted to be home, safe in her own room; she was tired of people and unpleasantness”.
Later, after a terrifying occurrence in a hostel, Anna analyses her situation. “I’m not like this. I’m not pathetic. I’m a plain, single woman who stayed at home instead of marrying, and now I’m alone, but I’m no different than thousands of others, my troubles are no different. And they are scared too, but still they learn, and still they matter to themselves, and so do I; I don’t need to beg. I don’t need pity. It’s my troubles, they’re mainly, they’re in me. It’s for me to face, and not ask others what I can only ask myself”. It’s this natural narrative that spoke to me and gave me real insights into Anna’s thoughts and interpretations of the world around her.
The other characters in the book, like Anna herself, are distinctive and complex. There are no angels and devils, just humans with all their foibles, mistakes, hopes and regrets. Louie is the one who comes to play the biggest role in her life and the author’s realisation of this brash, assertive, flawed, insecure man is also a superb achievement.
This is a thoughtful, profound and moving book, but it isn’t all doom and gloom. It was a gripping and satisfying read and one that I know I will return to again sometime.
May 29, 2024
The Marriage of Anna Maye Potts by DeWitt Henry is a very highly recommended literary character driven novel.
After her mother died Anna Maye Potts stayed and took care of the home and her elderly father while working her job at Manville’s chocolates in Philadelphia. She's worked hard at Manville and after 18 years there is now a supervisor of her department. Now 36 years-old, Anna and her sister inherit the house together after their father passed away. Her sister moves in with her husband and two daughters and immediately works on getting Anna out of the house.
A longtime co-worker of Anna, Louie Miscello, is a womanizer with an ill wife, who dies from cancer, and a special needs daughter. He often confides in Anna, sharing his struggles and fears. The two have a friendship that turns into a relationship and marriage, which brings new difficulties.
The writing is excellent. The Marriage of Anna Maye Potts is a deep dive into the inner life of the various characters. Chapters present the personal inner voices of each character, making them all fully realized, believable individuals. They may not all be likable, but their inner thoughts and motives are all laid out for the reader. This approach also allows for a close examination of the inner growth of each character as they handle the various difficulties life throws at them.
This is a great choice for readers who appreciate and enjoy literary character driven novels. It is not fast moving, but carefully follows the transformation of various characters. Originally published in 2001 the novel is being re-released on 6/15/24 by Pierian Springs Press. Thanks to Pierian Springs Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2024/0...
After her mother died Anna Maye Potts stayed and took care of the home and her elderly father while working her job at Manville’s chocolates in Philadelphia. She's worked hard at Manville and after 18 years there is now a supervisor of her department. Now 36 years-old, Anna and her sister inherit the house together after their father passed away. Her sister moves in with her husband and two daughters and immediately works on getting Anna out of the house.
A longtime co-worker of Anna, Louie Miscello, is a womanizer with an ill wife, who dies from cancer, and a special needs daughter. He often confides in Anna, sharing his struggles and fears. The two have a friendship that turns into a relationship and marriage, which brings new difficulties.
The writing is excellent. The Marriage of Anna Maye Potts is a deep dive into the inner life of the various characters. Chapters present the personal inner voices of each character, making them all fully realized, believable individuals. They may not all be likable, but their inner thoughts and motives are all laid out for the reader. This approach also allows for a close examination of the inner growth of each character as they handle the various difficulties life throws at them.
This is a great choice for readers who appreciate and enjoy literary character driven novels. It is not fast moving, but carefully follows the transformation of various characters. Originally published in 2001 the novel is being re-released on 6/15/24 by Pierian Springs Press. Thanks to Pierian Springs Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2024/0...
June 24, 2025
Set in a post-war America in the 1950s, Dewitt Henry has captured the pulse of a generation of women who a decade later would slide into the 60s, a time of freedom, protests, and sexual liberation. But in the post war economy, traditional roles were only slowly changing as industry was changing and America was heaving with possibility.
Anna Maye Potts holds a managerial role at a Philadelphia candy manufacturer. Following her father's death, she's living in her childhood home and sharing it with her sister and her sister's family. It's not an ideal life and the push-pull of the two women deftly explores changing roles and societal expectations.
When Anna becomes involved with an older man from work, she marries him as it offers her a path away from spinsterhood and a chance at a traditional domestic life. But as Anna's life changes she discovers she is more than the compliant daughter, sister, and now wife. This is a middle-age coming of age story that mirrors the time it is set with a lyrical writing style and beating heart full of authenticity and courage.
Anna Maye Potts holds a managerial role at a Philadelphia candy manufacturer. Following her father's death, she's living in her childhood home and sharing it with her sister and her sister's family. It's not an ideal life and the push-pull of the two women deftly explores changing roles and societal expectations.
When Anna becomes involved with an older man from work, she marries him as it offers her a path away from spinsterhood and a chance at a traditional domestic life. But as Anna's life changes she discovers she is more than the compliant daughter, sister, and now wife. This is a middle-age coming of age story that mirrors the time it is set with a lyrical writing style and beating heart full of authenticity and courage.
May 26, 2024
How Anna Maye, Mary, and Louie find answers to their pain is the premise behind this book. However their stories are told in such roundabout, longwinded ways that I was bored a quarter of the way through. Read more about this book on my blog: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress....
June 4, 2024
The well written story of a women, her life and how she changes. Minimalist at times, moments of life and memorable characters.
A book to read slowly while you enjoyed the excellent storytelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
A book to read slowly while you enjoyed the excellent storytelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
February 8, 2025
A brilliant piece of prose fiction naturalism, this is a literary novel not a quick genre page turner, so it may not appeal to readers expecting something light and easy.
An everywoman, Anna Maye is as iconic a character as any of the greatest female characters in literature. Dewitt Henry is the undisputed, canny master of naturalism in this novel of everyday people, Anna and those around her, going about their lives. Yet, how extraordinary the development of these characters, as we see their lives unfold under circumstances we ourselves encounter: death, jealousy, abandonment, deceit, temptation, remorse, hope, love. And then, the unexpected. The triumphant emergence of one’s true self upon finding one’s deepest strengths, when tested at the precipice--where we must choose what we stand for, what we are made of, and what we will continue to hold on to--that which truly defines us--as we move forward into a future of our own making.
An everywoman, Anna Maye is as iconic a character as any of the greatest female characters in literature. Dewitt Henry is the undisputed, canny master of naturalism in this novel of everyday people, Anna and those around her, going about their lives. Yet, how extraordinary the development of these characters, as we see their lives unfold under circumstances we ourselves encounter: death, jealousy, abandonment, deceit, temptation, remorse, hope, love. And then, the unexpected. The triumphant emergence of one’s true self upon finding one’s deepest strengths, when tested at the precipice--where we must choose what we stand for, what we are made of, and what we will continue to hold on to--that which truly defines us--as we move forward into a future of our own making.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews