The Good Wife of Bath

This is a book that I initially borrowed from the library, read the first few chapters and immediately decided that I must have my own copy. The book was purchased between Lockdown 5 and Lockdown 6 in Melbourne. Those who complain about restrictions as the result of COVID-19 should read this story set in  fourteenth century England where there was the threat of bubonic plague in the community every few years.

The story in the first part of the novel, The Good Wife of Bath: a (mostly) true story, by Australian author Karen Brooks is based on the prologue to The Wife's Tale in Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400). 

Eleanor Cornfed was twelve when she married an elderly farmer who became the first of Eleanor's five husbands. In Mediaeval England life was not easy for a woman of the lower classes. Even when Eleanor's opportunities increased and she was able to show her flair for organisation and business she was thwarted because she was not a man or a widow. Never the less Eleanor was a fighter and strived to make her mark and established firm friendships. 

Between each marriage Eleanor went on a pilgrimage to places such as Canterbury, Rome and Jerusalem. Eleanor's distant cousin was the poet Geoffrey Chaucer who followed Eleanor's advice to write about ordinary people, including women. However she was not impressed when he modelled one of his characters on her experiences.

This is a story about the power of men over women in all forms. It is also about the determination of a woman trying and make her own way in a world where the rules are made by men. 

The Good Wife of Bath is an entertaining reworking of Chaucer's story and the historical context in which the novel is set provides an interesting glimpse into the history of 14th century England. At the end of the book there is a glossary of medieaval terms used, a list of the names of real people mentioned in the novel plus a dtetailed author's note about the writing of the book.