Karen Brooks

A provocative, immersive medieval novel starring one of literature's most unforgettable characters in her own words--Chaucer's bold and libidinous Wife of Bath. "So damned readable and fun...This is the story of a woman fighting for her rights; it breaches the walls of history."--The Australian In the middle ages, a famous poet told a story that mocked a strong woman. It became a literary classic. But what if the woman in question had a chance to tell her own version? England, 1364: When married off at aged twelve to an elderly farmer, brazen redheaded Eleanor quickly realizes it won't matter what she says or does, God is not on her side--or any poor woman's for that matter. But then again, Eleanor was born under the joint signs of Venus and Mars, making her both a lover and a fighter. Aided by a head for business (and a surprisingly kind husband), Eleanor manages to turn her first marriage into success, and she rises through society from a cast-off farm girl to a woman of fortune who becomes a trusted friend of the social-climbing poet Geoffrey Chaucer. But more marriages follow--some happy, some not--several pilgrimages, many lovers, murder, mayhem, and many turns of fortune's wheel as Eleanor pursues the one thing that all women want: control of their own lives.

A Novel

The Good Wife of Bath

Evie crowley

The story is very well written, and all around the book is a five stars, however some of the decisions the main character makes pushed it down to a 4.75 for me. Would still 100% recommend this book to everyone. Amazing read.

In the middle ages, a poet told a story that mocked a strong woman. It became a literary classic. But what if the woman in question had a chance to tell her own version? Who would you believe? 'Brooks' mischievous retelling [of Chaucer's The Wife of Bath] dials up the feminist themes - and the fun - to 11.' The Canberra Times England, The Year of Our Lord, 1364 When married off aged 12 to an elderly farmer, Eleanor Cornfed, who's constantly told to seek redemption for her many sins, quickly realises it won't matter what she says or does, God is not on her side - or any poor woman's for that matter. But Eleanor was born under the joint signs of Venus and Mars. Both a lover and a fighter, she will not bow meekly to fate. Even if five marriages, several pilgrimages, many lovers, violence, mayhem and wildly divergent fortunes (that swoop up and down as if spinning on Fortuna's Wheel itself) do not for a peaceful life make. Aided and abetted by her trusty god-sibling Alyson, the counsel of one Geoffrey Chaucer, and a good head for business, Eleanor fights to protect those she loves from the vagaries of life, the character deficits of her many husbands, the brutalities of medieval England and her own fatal flaw... a lusty appreciation of mankind. All while continuing to pursue the one thing all women want - control of their own lives. This funny, picaresque, clever retelling of Chaucer's 'Wife of Bath' from The Canterbury Tales is a cutting assessment of what happens when male power is left to run unchecked, as well as a recasting of a literary classic that gives a maligned character her own voice, and allows her to tell her own (mostly) true story. 'Astonishingly good - an instant classic. Certes 'tis a tale for everywoman.' Tea Cooper, Bestselling International Author

A (Mostly) True Story

Nat Lim

The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

Karen Brook’s The Good Wife of Bath is a historical fiction novel, premised on the prologue and tale of the Wife of Bath in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, a collection of 24 stories written in Middle English just as people were becoming more literate (whatever literate actually means). This novel gives the Wife of Bath the opportunity to tell her own story, and it’s a raucous hoot of a read.

Beginning in England in 1364, Eleanor Cornfed is married off aged 12 to an elderly farmer, and quickly realises it won’t matter what she says or does, neither God nor society is on her side. But Eleanor was born under the joint signs of Venus and Mars. Both a lover and a fighter, she will not bow meekly to fate. Over the course of her life, she gets married five times, makes several pilgrimages, and her fortunes change as quickly as night turns to day. Eleanor has the friendship of her god-sibling Alyson and the Poet Geoffrey Chaucer to help her make business and learn to trade. But Eleanor is also a complex woman, learning how to use her sexuality to gain in her marriages, even as it is one of her fatal flaws. But at the end of the day, she’s pursuing the one thing all women want—control of their own lives.

There’s a lot to enjoy in the novel, from its bawdiness and wit, to its attention to historical detail. It also seems to interrogate both Alyson’s relationship to the Poet himself, particular because in the original Tales, her voice is given to her by a man. One can read the Wife of Bath in both ways—as Chaucer’s sexism, or as his feminism—and of course, many a scholarly debate has been had over this very issue (though of course a writer is not necessarily reflected directly in their work). But ultimately history is more about the questions asked, and who is asking those questions, rather than to the answers that we may be able to uncover from the historical record. After all, the questions will always be somewhat unanswerable.

I absolutely loved Eleanor’s lewdness and how she rails against Medieval patriarchal society, but I also appreciated how she’s portrayed as a complex woman who does not always have laudable qualities—she’s boastful (particularly of her sexual conquests), cunning (especially in her various marriages), vain (in looks and social position), and materially-focussed (as opposed to spiritually, considering her several pilgrimages). But she’s also got a softer side, looking out for those who are loyal to her, and wanting children of her own.

By the end of the novel, it seemed to me that it is not necessarily vindictive power over the men in her life that Brooks' Eleanor wants in the novel, but rather power over her own destiny.

(Full review here: https://littlemissmaudlin.wordpress.c...)

Anyaconda

Eleanor is my new hero. This novel was absolutely amazing, funny and highly entertaining and has earned itself a spot in my top 20 this year for sure.
It’s almost like “The 7 husbands of Evelyn Hugo” but set in the Middle Ages (and we’re only dealing with 5 husbands).
I loved the heart and emotions the book portrayed. I loved the wit and sense of business within Eleanor and the aspect of sisterhood and family. The characters comments had me laugh out loud at times.
Altogether I cannot recommend this book highly enough to anyone who’s looking for a heartwarming and entertaining read with some epic and strong female characters.
I cannot wait for the author’s next book.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Good Wife of Bath A Novel

Reviews