Is there anyone, hearing a story about bigamy, who does not feel a tiny jolt of admiration, even envy, for the wrongdoer? How many of us can say that, if we could suffer no ill consequences, we wouldn’t rather like to have a second household, with different plants in the garden, different curtains, a different — perhaps more exotic or sympathetic — spouse? Like walking a circus tightrope, bigamy requires daring, agility and a certain amount of dash: the onlooker cannot help but gasp at the feat. This is one of the reasons why stories about it hold such fascination. Another is that secret lives are always exciting, whether it’s espionage, transvestism or multiple wives.
The Other Mrs Jordan describes Mary Turner Thomson’s marriage to a man who turned out to have at least one other wife, as well as numerous children by other women, including the nanny employed to look after some of them. But this labyrinth of conjugal deception was not enough for Will Jordan. He also fabricated a whole working life, claiming to be a CIA agent working undercover and, somewhat improbably, in Edinburgh. His lengthy absences from home (including missing the birth of the child who was supposedly his first) were thus explained: he was on a series of highly secret missions. The nature of his job also accounted for the odd lacunae in his salary, since the CIA apparently paid him solely with perks such as cars and the occasional use of a cashcard. Mary spent only seven consecutive days with Will in six years. She bore him two children. She got through every penny she had ever saved, earned or put into property. Then she got a telephone call from a woman called Michelle who told her she was the other Mrs Jordan.
Comments
Join the debate for just £1 a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just £1 a monthAlready a subscriber? Log in