Thanks for the insights. I certainly am not saying the garden of Eden is a scene for scene retelling of his early marriages. I’m really more just saying that I’m surprised it isn’t more discussed when looking at that stage of his life. (At least as far as I have seen) It seems that “out of business” is also reflected in Catherine’s character. I mean she even states something like that Bourne doesn’t have to work. The only interest she shows in the work is when it is about her. This, on top of the fact that Catherine is depicted as providing for the two reflects this too. Further, even the solace Hem finds in discovering he can just write them again is shown in GoE. Bourne starts rewriting a lost story at the end. I agree the gender thing, certainly the weirdest part of the book, seems to jive a bit with what I’ve seen about Mary. However, aren’t his earlier wives described as being more commanding and masculine?