When Marnie Was There (novel)

When Marnie Was There is a novel by British author Joan G. Robinson (1910–88), first published in 1967. The story follows Anna, a young girl who temporarily moves to Norfolk to heal after becoming ill. There she meets a mysterious girl named Marnie who lives in a house overlooking the marshes. In 2014, it was adapted by Studio Ghibli as an animated film of the same name.

When Marnie Was There
AuthorJoan G. Robinson
IllustratorPeggy Fortnum
Cover artistPeggy Fortnum
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
GenreFantasy
Set inNorfolk, England
PublisherCollins
Publication date
1967
Media typeHardcover
Pages224
OCLC38977

Background

The book was inspired by a house in Burnham Overy and the character of Anna was based on Robinson's own experiences as a child.[1][2]

Plot summary

The novel follows an adopted girl named Anna. Her foster mother, Mrs Preston, anxiously bids farewell as Anna boards a train to Norfolk; she had been invited by an old couple, Mrs Pegg and Sam, to stay at their home after learning she is ill. During her journey, she apathetically reflects on her loneliness, and Mrs Preston's overwhelming concern for her. She arrives, later walking to the nearby staithe that opens into a creek inset a marsh. There, she observes an old house across the water—the Marsh House. Over the days she spends time outdoors, finding quiet company with a local fisherman, Wuntermenny. She visits the Post Office where a local girl, Sandra, mocks her, viewing Anna as socially inept. Anna angrily runs off, upset. Anna secretly leaves the house that night, finds a boat, and rows towards the Marsh House where outside she encounters a blonde haired girl, Marnie.

Anna explains she is a visitor to the area, and Marnie explains she lives in the Marsh House. The two agree to keep their meeting secret and they meet again next evening, asking more questions. The next day Mrs Pegg scolds Anna, having learned that she'd quarrelled with Sandra. Feeling disturbed, Anna spends the daytime alone outdoors. That night, Anna rows to the Marsh House. Marnie finds Anna, disguising her as a beggar girl and bringing her indoors to a lavish party, enchanting Anna. Thereafter, they meet regularly: Marnie explains her parents are regularly absent, and that she's supervised by two maids. Anna explains she is adopted, tearfully confiding that her foster parents are paid a care allowance, doubting she's sincerely loved. Marnie consoles her, promising she will love her forever. Marnie admits her maids abuse her, and threaten to lock her in the nearby, dilapidated windmill, and that she has an older cousin, Edward, who she alternately spends time with.

Although Marnie had reassured Anna she loves her the most, Anna privately becomes intimidated by knowledge of Edward. Anna visits the windmill alone, believing she can later reassure Marnie that it's not frightening, a gesture Edward could not offer. Inside she finds Marnie in extreme terror and is unable to calm her. Anna falls asleep and wakes up to find Marnie is gone. Heartbroken, she runs out and collapses. Anna spends days bedridden, angered that Marnie had left her. Anna goes out to shun Marnie, who apologises to Anna and says she cannot see her any more. Anna forgives her, and then collapses in the marsh. Wuntermenny rescues her, and she returns to being bedridden. After recovering, Anna realises her memories of Marnie are no longer lucid. Thereafter she begins to actively socialise, interacting with locals. She meets a family, The Lindsays, who are moving into the Marsh House, and becomes acquainted with a girl, Scilla.

Scilla explains she found a diary at the Marsh House. They read the diary, which details Marnie's daily life. Scilla's mother, Mrs Lindsay, interprets the archaic language and events, estimating the diary dates to The Great War. The diary is shown to a family friend of The Lindsays, Gillie, who narrates the diary to Anna and The Lindsays: Gillie reveals Marnie, a childhood friend of hers, grew up to marry Edward and have a daughter, Esmé. Edward died and Esmé was sent to boarding school, becoming estranged from Marnie. Esmé eloped and had a daughter named Marianna, before dying in a car crash. Marianna briefly came into the care of Marnie, who died several years ago. Marianna was then adopted; it is revealed Anna, renamed from Marianna, was Marnie's granddaughter. Anna finds closure in this story, and spends the next days with The Lindsays. Before going home, Anna goes outside to say goodbye to Wuntermenny, and then turns to the mansion to see Marnie at the window waving goodbye to her.

Adaptations

In 1971, BBC One London adapted the novel to television for the children's book reading programme Jackanory. The book was read by Ann Bell, with filming and photography staged in Burnham Overy. It ran as five episodes, each 15 minutes, from November 8 to 12.[3][2] In 2006, BBC Radio 4 adapted the novel as a radio play for an episode of The Saturday Play. It was dramatised by Beaty Rubens and directed by David Hunter, and included voices of Georgina Hagen (Anna) and Juliet Aaltonen (Marnie).[4] In 2014, Studio Ghibli released an animated adaption of the book, with the story set in Hokkaido. The anime was directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi.[5] Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki had previously recommended the book.[6] The anime won the Chicago International Children's Film Festival, and an Oscar nomination in 2015.

Awards

When Marnie Was There was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal in 1967.[7]

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References
  1. Bishop, Chris. "Author would have approved of Japanese re-make of mysterious story set at Burnham Overy Staithe in north Norfolk". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  2. Sheppard, Deborah (2014) [1967]. Afterword. When Marnie Was There. By Robinson, Joan G. HaperCollins. ISBN 9780007591350.
  3. "Jackanory". BBC Genome Project. Radio Times. 4 November 1971. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  4. "The Saturday Play: When Mamie [sic] Was There". BBC Genome Project. Radio Times. 7 December 2006. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  5. "Omoide no Mânî (2014)". IMDb. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  6. "Ghibli Adapts Joan G. Robinson's When Marnie Was There Novel Into Anime - News". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  7. "Joan G Robinson". Clients. Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
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