Work Ends at Nightfall

by Marjorie Hillis

This book is a charming, light read in the form of metered verse. Hillis tells the story of several working women who get together for drinks and dinner in the evening. She gives us glimpses of their internal dialogues, their insecurities, and their various ambitions, all while keeping up a running commentary.

Genres: Poetry

94 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1938

About the author

Marjorie Hillis was the second child of Annie Louise Patrick Hillis of Marengo, Illinois, and Dr. Newell Dwight Hillis of Magnolia, Indiana, both authors. Mrs. Hillis wrote The American Woman and Her Home (1911). Dr. Hillis was a famed, though sometimes controversial, clergyman who had served as pastor of Plymouth Congressional Church, Brooklyn, from 1899 to 1924. Miss Hillis had a brother, Richard Dwight Hillis (born 1888) and a sister, Nathalie Louise (born 1900). The Hillis' resided for many years in Brooklyn, New York. Dr. Hillis passed away in 1929, Mrs. Hillis not far behind in 1930.
Educated expensively at a private school for girls, Miss Dana’s in Morristown, New Jersey, Miss Hillis spent a year abroad before going to work for Vogue.

Hillis worked for Vogue for over twenty years, beginning as a captions writer for the pattern book and working her way up to assistant editor of the magazine itself. In 1936 she wrote Live Alone and Like It, the superlative guide for 'bachelor ladies'. Although determined to write a "how-to" book, Miss Hillis was not sure initially exactly what topic she would cover. She found that the “how to please a man” angle had already been pretty well covered, so decided to write about how a women living alone could have a “cheerful life.” The concept was a somewhat shocking one, and Miss Hillis found herself a media sensation. “Sophisticated Miss Hillis honestly believes there are advantages in a husbandless state!" one critic wrote. It was an instant bestseller and was followed by Orchids on Your Budget.

She was the champion of bachelor girls everywhere until she got married on August 1937 in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, to Thomas H Roulston, the widowed owner of a Brooklyn grocery store chain. She was 48 years old and many of her fans at the time were indignant considering her new status from Miss to Mrs a betrayal.

Reviews

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before Sex And The City, there were the seven women captured by Marjorie Hillis in this wonderful and unusual book. It's a novella written in verse, but it's very easy to read and understand. Seven friends, all professional women of the 1930s meet for a catch up over dinner and discuss their work and their love lives or lack thereof. Some are happy, some are not. They seek happiness in different ways and compare their lives to their friends', but they don't always see each other and even their own lives with clarity. Very insightful, very interesting and poignant. I'm so happy that my library had a copy and I really hope it gets republished like Marjorie's other books. Also, the illustrations are lovely!

[Bryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a novel told in poetry, looking at the lives of working women in the 1930s, very much of its time in both the good and bad of that phrase. It is somewhat didactic but I liked it very much.