The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post: A Novel

The main character of this novel, Marjorie Merriweather Post (1887-1973), was a real-life person—the daughter of Charles William (CW) Post, who founded Post Cereal Company in 1885. This company was the root of Marjorie’s wealth and ultimately provided for her success and her family’s comfort during several challenging times in American history, including the Great Depression. C. W. Post started Post Cereal Company after receiving treatment from Dr. John Kellogg in Battle Creek, Michigan—Kellogg himself also ran a rival cereal company with his brother, the eponymous Kellogg’s. The novel portrays Charles William starting his company to bring healthy foods and easy-to-serve meals to families.

Post Cereal’s original main products were Grape-Nuts, a cereal, and Postum, an alternative to coffee. However, after Charles William’s death, the company expanded beyond breakfast, acquiring brands like Jell-O and Maxwell House. When Marjorie advocated for the acquisition of Birds Eye, a frozen food company, she popularized the idea of frozen meals that cut down on preparation time, revolutionizing the food industry. After picking up Birds Eye, Post Cereal Company became General Foods, which was then acquired by the Altria Group in 1985 and then merged with Kraft Foods in 1987.

In The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post, Marjorie’s interactions with Post Cereal Company and later General Foods portray her as involved in and innovating her father’s business.