The Good Wife of Bath: A Novel

Written by Karen Brooks

Narrated by Fran Burgoyne

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Jan 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9780063142862

Karen Brooks

Australian-born Karen Brooks is the author of nine novels, an academic, a newspaper columnist and social comentator, and has appeared regularly on national TV and radio. Before turning to academia, she was an army officer, and dabbled in acting. She lives in Hobart, Tasmania.

Reviews for The Good Wife of Bath

[maryreinert · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Historical fiction at its best filled with many historical characters. Chaucer's Wife of Bath is really Eleanor who was first sent to be married at the age of twelve to a much older man who had a daughter, Alyson, her age. Fulk Bigod, while much older, turned out to be more of a father and Eleanor learned to love him. After his death, she made a terrible mistake marrying a man who in reality was after the land she inherited from Bigod. Alyson remained with her as her "child." The second man who was terrible and stole her land. Eleanor makes three more marriages - none of them happy in the real sense. Eleanor and Alyson remain close picking up several more people in their house who remain as family. This is the story of a woman whose options are very limited, yet with amazing strength of character and willfulness, she lives to an old age still surrounded by people who love her. Her live involves what she thought was the murder of a husband, the murder of Alyson whose name she takes on, and life as a prostitute. She had wonderful weaving skills, but was unable to sell her items due to the fact that the Guilds would not let a woman sell.The story is sad, brutal, and humorous at times. Throughout the story, Chaucer, as a distant relative remains in contact with Eleanor and eventually uses her as the model for his Wife of Bath - married five times - wanting in control of her life. Good read.

[amzzz_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A modern take on Chaucer’s wife of Bath prologue and poem. It dragged on a little bit towards the end but overall very good and has made me want to read (or at least listen to) some of the Canterbury tales again!

[janeajones · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I thoroughly enjoyed the first two-thirds of this book -- through the Wife's first four marriages. Brooks' fleshing out of the the growth and character of the Wife, as well as the other characters, including Chaucer was great fun. However, I think she went astray from Chaucer's intent and spirit with her extreme version of Jankyn. Chaucer's satire, good humor and humanity are lost. The combination of the Wife's Prologue and her Tale focus on the power of "Sovranty/sovereignty" in a relationship between the partners -- the Sovranty that is not the rule of one partner over another, but the recognition by each that the other is an autonomous, independent being.

[eyes92c · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Medieval Wife’s Tale! A pleasure!How could I not want to pursue this title? I love Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, and the Wife of Bath was a particular favorite. Dare I say a post modern look at the Wife? Probably not, but this raucous tale hits all the right notes, exploring the roles and expectations of and for women in the Middle Ages, and giving us an alternative story that fills in the “who” of the Wife of Bath. The Good Wife, Mistress Eleanor Cornfed is the protagonist. We see her story from her perspective, complete with five husbands. A keen wit keeps the novel moving along. Randomness and playfulness present opportunities.I kept thinking about previous novels I’ve read where women at these times have similar struggles and stories. I remember well Brooks’ The Lady Brewer of London. If you liked that, you will also like this. Yes, this is bawdy and the language is earthy, but the Anglo Saxon language has always had short four letter words. The Anglo Saxons ate fish, the French Normans poisson. So different! And this follows through to other regularly used words that are frowned upon today. Brooks has once again given us a realistic slice of a medieval woman’s life—The Good Wife of Bath. Her Author’s Notes are definitely worth perusing.To hear tell it’s the Poet who’s shielded Eleonor “from the consequences of my darker deeds by distracting those who would call me to account. For, while folk are titillated and shocked by his portrait, they don’t see me.” Now Eleanor declares, “it’s time for me to wrest my tale back and tell it in my own way.” And she does! A solid read that raised my eyebrows quite a few times. I enjoyed this immensely. Brooks has done justice for Eleanor.A William Morrow & Custom House ARC via NetGalley Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change

[jillrhudy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another novel about a legendary woman in legend or myth turning the tables of tradition and telling her side of the story from her own viewpoint. I love the Good Wife of Bath and I loved hearing the imagined life story of Eleanor behind the Canterbury Tale. What makes this novel stand out, in my opinion, is the evolving relationship between the main character and Chaucer, the man who told Eleanor's story from his own perspective and fixed it in literary history. Over time, their relationship evolves and Eleanor comes to understand Chaucer and his motives as a man and as a storyteller much better. Medieval women did not have very many good choices, and Eleanor must invent herself, in the same way that Chaucer invented her character--only she must do many reinventions in order to survive.