Marjorie Hillis (1889-1971) worked for Vogue for over twenty years, beginning her career as a captions writer for the pattern book and working her way up to assistant editor of the magazine itself. She was one of a growing number of independent, professional women who lived alone by choice. In 1936 she wrote Live Alone and Like It, the superlative guide for 'bachelor ladies' (who became known as 'live-aloners'). It was an instant bestseller.

Three years after the book's publication, at the age of forty-nine, Ms. Hillis bid a fond farewell to the live-aloners by marrying Mr. T.H. Roulston.