Kathleen Jenkins and Agnes Boulton - Wives

Kathleen Jenkins: Eugene O'Neill's First Wife

Kathleen Jenkins was the first wife of Eugene O'Neill. The couple married in 1909 when Eugene was just beginning his career as a writer. Kathleen came from a respectable background and brought a sense of stability to Eugene's otherwise tumultuous early years. Their marriage, however, was brief and marked by difficulties from the start.

The couple had one child together, a son named Eugene O'Neill Jr., born in 1910. Despite the joy of their new child, the marriage quickly deteriorated. Eugene's erratic lifestyle, compounded by his bouts of depression and alcoholism, created significant strain on the relationship. Kathleen, who had hoped for a more stable family life, found it increasingly challenging to cope with Eugene's unpredictable behavior.

By 1912, the marriage had effectively ended, although the formal divorce was not finalized until 1917. Kathleen was left to raise their son largely on her own, a task that became increasingly difficult as Eugene distanced himself from his responsibilities as a father. Their son, Eugene Jr., would go on to have his own troubled life, deeply affected by the instability of his early years and his father's absence.

Kathleen Jenkins' life after her marriage to Eugene was marked by resilience. She focused on raising her son and managing the challenges that came with being a single mother in the early 20th century. Despite the difficulties, Kathleen maintained a dignified presence and worked to provide her son with the best opportunities she could. Her legacy is intertwined with that of her famous ex-husband, and she remains a significant figure in the story of Eugene O'Neill's early life and career.

 

Eugene O'Neill (1888-1953), the American playwright, photographed in 1926 by Nickolas Muray, alongside his second wife Agnes Boulton, their baby daughter Oona, and son Shane.

Nickolas Murray, 1926.

Agnes Boulton: Eugene O'Neill's Second Wife

Agnes Boulton was a successful writer in her own right when she met Eugene O'Neill. Born in 1893, she had established herself as a writer of pulp fiction and short stories. The two met in 1917, and their shared literary interests quickly brought them together. They married in April 1918, at a time when Eugene's career was beginning to take off with the success of his plays.

Agnes and Eugene had two children together: Shane O'Neill, born in 1919, and Oona O'Neill, born in 1925. Their marriage coincided with a highly productive period in Eugene's career, during which he wrote some of his most acclaimed works. Despite their professional successes, the marriage faced numerous challenges. Eugene's struggles with alcoholism and his intense focus on his work often led to a tumultuous home life.

Agnes herself was a dedicated writer, but she put much of her career on hold to support Eugene and care for their children. The demands of raising a family, combined with the pressures of Eugene's career and personal demons, placed significant strain on their relationship.

By the late 1920s, the marriage had begun to unravel. Eugene's affair with Carlotta Monterey, who would become his third wife, further complicated their already strained relationship. Agnes and Eugene separated in 1928 and were officially divorced in 1929.

After the divorce, Agnes Boulton returned to her writing, though she never achieved the same level of success she had before her marriage to Eugene. She published a memoir, "Part of a Long Story," in 1958, which provided a candid look at her life with Eugene and the challenges they faced. The memoir is a valuable resource for understanding the personal dynamics of one of America's greatest playwrights.

Agnes Boulton passed away in 1968, leaving behind a legacy as a talented writer and the mother of two of Eugene O'Neill's children. Her life and experiences provide crucial insights into the personal world of Eugene O'Neill, offering a more complete picture of the man behind the literary genius.