“Whom God Hath Joined: A Question of Marriage” by Fergus Hume is a novel set in Victorian society that explores the complexities of marriage and romantic relationships. The story delves into the moral dilemmas and social expectations surrounding domestic life, particularly focusing on the challenges faced by couples when love comes into conflict with duty. Hume examines the marital strife that arises from societal norms and religious themes, questioning whether a union blessed by God should ever be broken. The novel also touches on the controversial topic of divorce, highlighting the legal issues and family dynamics that complicate the dissolution of a marriage. Through a detailed character study, Hume portrays the inner turmoil of individuals caught between personal desires and the rigid expectations of society. Ultimately, the book provides a poignant commentary on the nature of conflict within marriage and the struggle to reconcile love with the pressures of the time.
Ferguson Wright Hume, also known as Fergus Hume, was a prolific English novelist who wrote detective fiction, thrillers, and mysteries. Hume was born in Powick, Worcestershire, England, as the second son of James C. Hume, a Scot who worked as a clerk and steward at the county pauper and lunatic asylum. When he was three, his family moved to Dunedin, New Zealand, where he attended Otago Boys' High School and studied law at the University of Otago. He was admitted to the New Zealand Bar in 1885. Hume moved to Melbourne, Australia, shortly after graduating and began working as a barristers' clerk. He began writing plays, but, was unable to persuade Melbourne theatre managers to approve, let alone read them. Hume returned to England, first in London, then in Thundersley, Essex, at Church Cottage, most likely on the invitation of the Reverend Thomas Noon Talfourd Major. Hume resided in Thundersley for thirty years, producing over 130 novels and various collections, the most of which were mystery stories, although he never regained the fame of his debut novel. He also wrote lyrics for songs written by his brother-in-law, Charles Willeby, and book reviews for literary periodicals such as The Bookman. The 1911 census shows him as ‘author’, aged 51, and living at Church Cottage, Thundersley, which comprised of six rooms. He had a housekeeper, Ada Louise Peck, a widow aged 69. He made regular trips to Italy, France, Switzerland, and other European countries.
