Kelly Corrigan Wonders Thanks For Being Here - Jane Perlez's Essay "Dear Marjorie"
Apr 5, 2026
Jane Perlez, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and podcast host, reads 'Dear Marjorie,' a tribute to a writer who inspired her as a child. Short, vivid memories paint a portrait of balcony routines, legal-pad drafts, and a life lived on her own terms. The conversation touches on education, defiance, quiet partnerships, and the small domestic details behind big literary work.
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Young Jane Watching A Writer At Work
- Jane Perlez remembers living next door to Marjorie Barnard and watching her write on a legal pad from a balcony overlooking the river.
- Barnard's curving longhand, silvery plaited hair, rimless glasses, and steady output of books showed a young Jane what one person could accomplish.
Steady Production Demonstrates Possibility
- Jane says Barnard's steady production of books thrilled her and demonstrated that sustained work creates achievement.
- The image of long pages filled with a curvy scroll of handwriting made the process tangible and inspirational.
Oxford Offer Denied Sparked A Writing Career
- Jane recounts Marjorie winning a place at Oxford but being prevented from going by her father, leading her to become a librarian before succeeding as a writer.
- The detail that Barnard may have written to 'show my father' adds a personal motive behind her prolific career.
