The Dutch Wife

Written by Eric McCormack

Narrated by Robert Ian Mackenzie

Rachel, the mother of the aging professor Thomas Vanderlinden, shared her life with two men. Both went by the name of Rowland Vanderlinden. The first husband went abroad and never returned. The second, whom Rachel also unquestioningly accepted as her husband, was a mystery. In an attempt to understand his mother's adventurous decisions regarding love and marriage, Thomas sets out on a journey to the far reaches of the Pacific to find the first Rowland, and his real father. As the mystery of the two Rowlands unfolds throughout the novel, so too does a fascinating portrait of one woman and the choices she makes. Set before a backdrop of fantastical places, The Dutch Wife is a profound meditation on the nature of love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9781501982101

Reviews for The Dutch Wife

[datrappert · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have now finished what appear to be the complete works of Eric McCormack--what a sad occasion. I wish in retrospect, I had read (or listened) to his books in chronological order, since he tells so many of the same stories and various characters and themes recur. But in any order, it is a remarkable body of work. In the Dutch Wife, he again delves into the mysteries of human existence and human relations. A woman accepts a man who shows up at her doorstep saying he is her husband, although she knows he isn't. Why? The author/narrator, through a series of conversations with the woman's son, tries to get to the truth. Along the way, of course, as anyone who has read McCormack knows, we are going to be treated to a series of stories, each of them strong enough to stand alone. All his usual themes are present--ships, shipwrecks, islands, 17th century literature, dreams, weird food, strange cultural practices, and so on. This is a fascinating and rewarding read, and, as I have said before, the pleasure in reading McCormack is as much the journey as the destination. Although he is in his 80s and his last book was published in 2014, let's hope there is more coming. In the meantime, start with his excellent collection of short stories, "Inspecting the Vaults", as I did. If that hooks you, read the rest in order. He is a great writer.