Lydie Marland's Letters to Grace Murray 1926 to 1945: Marriage, Infidelity, Poverty and Caring for an Ill Husband Kindle Edition

Lydie Marland was Oklahoma's most intriguing first lady, from 1935-1939. These 50 heartfelt letters to a childhood friend are accompanied by historical photographs. Lydie reveals her private life and the public scandal of the marriage to her adoptive father, Gov. E.W. Marland, who raised her for 12 years. With commentary by Gary Robert Pinnell, these letters unfold Lydie's mental health struggles and paint a portrait of the Dust Bowl and Great Depression. They start the week after the death of her adoptive mother, Virginia, when she and her father embarked on a six-week European vacation, and end a few years after the death of her father, by then her husband. Lydie details the poignant transformation of a socialite into a recluse, and uncovers the layers of love, loss, and longing that defined her life. This sets the stage for the compelling narrative of "The Madness of E.W. and Lydie Marland," and offers readers a unique glimpse into the rise and fall of Oklahoma's legendary family. Read more