JOHN MARRS
©RGershinson
My latest and tenth novel, The Marriage Act, is set in a time when the British Government is encouraging people to marry. It believes couples live happier, more productive lives and are better for the economy if they’ve made a lasting commitment. It is also offering a marriage upgrade to existing betrothed couples. And incentives include lower taxes, better schools, an improved NHS system and lower mortgages.
But there is a catch – if you want a Smart marriage, you’re allowing the Government to monitor you. For ten minutes every day, your Alexa-style home assistant can record your conversations. And every disagreement, argument or off the cuff remark will be analysed to determine whether your marriage is ‘safe’ or whether you need an intervention to improve it. I follow five characters, from different walks of life at different stages in their relationships. And I explore how they interact with this new way of living.