Markham V. Reynolds Character Analysis in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Mark is an extremely wealthy American in the publishing business. He begins courting Juliet while she's on her book tour and leaves her flowers at every stop. When the two finally begin communicating, Mark admits that Juliet's Izzy Bickerstaff columns were the only pieces written by women that made him laugh during the war, which is why he's interested in pursuing her. Though Juliet says that Mark is everything a woman should want—he's wealthy, single, powerful, and bossy without being outright mean to servers—she also never feels fully comfortable with him. To her credit, Mark doesn't take Juliet's work seriously and he often bullies her into going out with him. He also believes that Juliet is in love with Sidney, which makes him even more difficult to deal with. When Juliet refuses Mark's proposal of marriage, Mark takes it very badly: he berates Juliet for saying no, calls her an idiot, and only stops when she starts to cry. He attempts to stop her from going to Guernsey and shows up unannounced to try to take her back to London so they can get married. Juliet refuses when Mark suggests that Juliet can't take care of Kit forever and says she's wasting his time by staying on Guernsey. After this, Juliet turns him down for good. She recognizes afterwards that while Mark is, by many metrics, a catch, being married to him would've turned her into a woman who was afraid to think for herself. Sidney also believes that if they'd gotten married, Juliet would've never written another book thanks to Mark's disinterest in Juliet's career.

Markham V. Reynolds Quotes in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society quotes below are all either spoken by Markham V. Reynolds or refer to Markham V. Reynolds. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

The simple truth of it is that you're the only female writer who makes me laugh. Your Izzy Bickerstaff columns were the wittiest work to come out of the war, and I want to meet the woman who wrote them.

Related Characters: Markham V. Reynolds (speaker), Juliet Ashton

Related Symbols: Izzy Bickerstaff

Page Number and Citation: 34

Explanation and Analysis:

In Mark's first note to Juliet, he compliments her Izzy Bickerstaff columns and insists he must meet her. There are several things to notice in Mark's letter. First, he tries to separate Juliet from women as a whole by insisting that she's the only funny female writer. Though the novel doesn't offer examples of other funny (and professional) female writers, this is certainly not true; it's just a way for Mark to attempt to make Juliet feel special. Second, it's telling that he wants to meet Juliet only because of columns she wrote under a pseudonym. By this point, Juliet Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum

But then I imagined a lifetime of having to cry to get him to be kind, and I went back to no again. We argued and he lectured and I wept a bit more because I was so exhausted, and eventually he called his chauffer to take me home. As he shut me into the back seat, he leaned in to kiss me and said, "You're an idiot, Juliet."

And maybe he's right.

Related Characters: Juliet Ashton (speaker), Sophie Strachan, Markham V. Reynolds

Page Number and Citation: 133

Explanation and Analysis:

Juliet, writing to Sophie, recounts Mark's marriage proposal and says she decided to stand firm in her "no" when she had to cry to make Mark stop berating her. Mark's behavior betrays that he doesn't think highly of Juliet at all and further, doesn't see her as an independent woman who can or should make her own decisions. This supports Sidney's later assessment that Mark only wants Juliet because she looks like an impressive wife; he doesn't actually want Juliet to continue to be impressive by writing. Then, Juliet's suggestion that maybe Mark is right speaks to the social mores Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesc

Maybe I am a complete idiot. I know of three women who are mad for him—he'll be snapped up in a trice, and I'll spend my declining years in a grimy bed-sit, with my teeth falling out one by one.

Related Characters: Juliet Ashton (speaker), Markham V. Reynolds, Sophie Strachan

Page Number and Citation: 163

Explanation and Analysis:

From Guernsey, Juliet writes to Sophie and wonders if she is stupid for refusing Mark's offer of marriage. Juliet's suggestion of what her life might look like after saying no speaks to the power of marrying someone like Mark. Despite his bad qualities, Juliet would never go hungry and would have access to all manner of things, simply by virtue of Mark's wealth. Juliet recognizes that as an independent, single woman and a working woman, she doesn't have the security that married women have because of their relationships to their husbands and the legal benefits that come with marriage. This Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Volupt

If she marries him, she'll spend the rest of her life being shown to people at theaters and clubs and weekends and she'll never write another book. As her editor, I'm dismayed by the prospect, but as her friend, I'm horrified. It will be the end of our Juliet.

Related Characters: Sidney Stark (speaker), Juliet Ashton, Sophie Strachan, Markham V. Reynolds

Page Number and Citation: 194-95

Explanation and Analysis:

During Sidney's first visit to Guernsey, he writes to Sophie and shares his fears: that if Juliet marries Mark Reynolds, she will lose all her independence. With this, Sidney makes it clear just how integral Juliet's independence and her work are to who she is—given that without them, Juliet as Sidney and Sophie know her would cease to exist. This suggests that, at least as far as Juliet's friends are concerned, her independence and her work are far more important than being married, even if Juliet's suitor is rich and conventionally attractive. Sidney then sets up the hope that Juliet Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedit

How could I ever have considered marrying him? One year as his wife, and I'd have become one of those abject, quaking women who look at their husbands when someone asks them a question. I've always despised that type, but I see how it happens now.

Related Characters: Juliet Ashton (speaker), Sophie Strachan, Markham V. Reynolds

Page Number and Citation: 214

Explanation and Analysis:

After turning down Mark's proposal of marriage for the final time, Juliet writes to Sophie and says she understands now that marriage to Mark would have deprived her of all of her independence and her personal thoughts. With this, Juliet shows that she finally recognizes that her independence and her career are far more important to her personally than being a wealthy wife, especially when being a wife to someone like Mark would mean that she no longer got to be her own person. She also now sees that when women turn into timid wives, it happens because they prioritized Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam

Markham V. Reynolds Character Timeline in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The timeline below shows where the character Markham V. Reynolds appears in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Juliet asks if Sidney knows a Markham V. Reynolds, as this man is leaving her flowers at every stop on her book... (full context)

Family, Parenting, and Legitimacy Theme Icon

...for longer to keep Juliet out of London and asks if Sidney's figured out who Markham V. Reynolds is yet. (full context)

...up with a new topic for her book. Then, he says he does know who Markham V. Reynolds is. He's an American in the publishing business. Sidney says he's cheeky and... (full context)

Juliet thanks Sidney for tracking down Markham V. Reynolds and says that she plans to remain true to Stephens & Stark. She... (full context)

...and a lying weasel. Juliet says that Sidney is quite the champion, and mentions that Reynolds sent her another bunch of orchids. (full context)

Juliet begins a letter to Markham Reynolds. She explains that she caught his delivery boy and made him reveal Reynolds's address.... (full context)

Markham Reynolds returns Juliet's letter and thanks her for catching the delivery boy; this means he... (full context)

Juliet accepts Mark's invitation and suggests Thursday. In his reply, Mark insists that Thursday is too far away,... (full context)

In a letter to Sophie, Juliet tells her about Mark Reynolds. He invited her to Claridge's and she spent three days worrying about her hair.... (full context)

Susan writes to Juliet, asking about a photo of Juliet dancing with Mark Reynolds that ran in the paper. She suggests that Juliet hide to escape Sidney's wrath,... (full context)

...short letters to Sidney, jokingly asking if he's not responding to her letters because of Mark Reynolds. Finally, Juliet sends a longer letter explaining that she went to Sidney's office, met... (full context)

...says she liked Sidney's old secretary better than Miss Tilley, and explains that she met Mark Reynolds. She says that Mark is perfectly fine and hasn't tried to poach her, and... (full context)

...She's also happy that Sidney isn't in London—with him gone, Juliet can spend time with Mark. Sidney doesn't like Mark at all, but Juliet thinks that Sidney is too dramatic. She... (full context)

Mark writes to Juliet and says that he's obtained opera tickets from his music critic for... (full context)

Juliet turns the subject to Mark. She reprimands Sophie for asking if she's in love with Mark—she insists that Sophie needs... (full context)

Mark writes to Juliet, annoyed that she doesn't want to go to a play with him.... (full context)

...she advises that Sidney fire Miss Tilley. She also mentions that she's seen Juliet and Mark out on a date. It looked very romantic and though Juliet invited Susan to join... (full context)

Mark sends a note to Juliet explaining that he managed to bully his way through the... (full context)

Juliet writes to Mark and says that she didn't refuse, she just wanted time to think—but says that Mark... (full context)

Juliet writes to Sophie about her proposal. She says that Mark offered her a huge diamond ring and is very upset that she didn't say yes... (full context)

Juliet suggests that maybe Mark is right. She asks if Sophie remembers the romance novels they used to read as... (full context)

Sidney sends a cable giving Juliet his blessing to go to Guernsey, but asks if Mark will let her go. Juliet responds that Mark doesn't get a say. (full context)

Mark writes to Juliet. His tone is exasperated as he insists that, as Juliet requested, he's... (full context)

Juliet writes back and says she's going to Guernsey and still can't give Mark an answer. He offers to drive her to meet the boat and she accepts, though... (full context)

Juliet tells Sophie that Mark tried to stop her coming to Guernsey but was ultimately unsuccessful. As the boat pulled... (full context)

Juliet apologizes to Mark for how their phone conversation unfolded last night. She says that it's true that she... (full context)

...can look at them. Juliet also includes a postscript, thanking Sidney for the clipping of Mark dancing with another woman. She says he failed to send her into a jealous rage,... (full context)

...her, but glances away when she looks at him. Sidney believes he's way better than Mark Reynolds, whom Sidney believes is a bully. Sidney says that Mark just wants Juliet because... (full context)

...a gift. In a postscript, Juliet also tells Sophie about her horrendous phone call with Mark in which she again refused to marry him. (full context)

...desperately wanted to take his hand. Dawsey turned to her but before they could kiss, Mark arrived. (full context)

Juliet wanted to kill Mark but greeted him anyway. She felt queasy as she introduced Dawsey and Mark. Dawsey left... (full context)

...writes Sophie again and instructs her to burn this letter as well: she's just refused Mark for the last time and she feels free. The morning after Mark's arrival he showed... (full context)

Mark tried to argue, but Juliet held firm. She feels now that after a year of... (full context)

...that she can't answer any questions about Dawsey, as she never sees him anymore. After Mark showed up, Juliet and Dawsey stopped talking and it seems as though they're barely friends... (full context)

Markham V. Reynolds Character Analysis

Markham V. Reynolds Quotes in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Part 1: Feb 5, 1946 Quotes

Part 1: 1 May, 1946 Quotes

Part 2: 24 May, 1946 Quotes

Part 2: 6 Jul, 1946 Quotes

Part 2: 24 Jul, 1946 Quotes

Markham V. Reynolds Character Timeline in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society