The Good Wife of Bath
A Novel
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The Good Wife of Bath
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Narrated by:
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Fran Burgoyne
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By:
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Karen Brooks
About this listen
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.
©2022 Karen Brooks (P)2022 HarperCollins PublishersListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about The Good Wife of Bath
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 27-11-22
very enjoyable
a wonderful insight into the lives of medieval women and how challenging they were, intertwined with Chaucer's poetry,
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Gabrielle Harvey-Jones
- 29-08-24
Absolutely loved this!
What a find! This was my first book by Karen Brooks, but will certainly not be my last! Wonderfully researched and with a perfect feeling of period - I loved every minute and can highly recommend it!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Knight Reader
- 05-07-22
Karen Brooks… wow! A must for historic fiction fans.
Fantastic piece of historical fiction. I am a huge fan of Kate Morton for her detailed descriptions and mostly her well researched historic periods for when her novels are set, until I’ve listened to this by new favourite author, Karen Brooks.
I can be a tricky one to please as I can pick fault with most things. Yet this book certainly did not give me opportunity to serve one complaint nor did it allow me to have a single picky comment to enter my thoughts whilst I was listening to, The Good Wife of Bath.
Karen Brooks has taken me my the hand and guided me back in time by allowing her words to become animated in my head. Her detailed writing skills ignited my imagination whilst quenching my thirst for historical knowledge. I shall now immerse myself in her other novels.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 11-09-23
Excellent story, excellent narration
Loved this book so much I read it again from the beginning as soon as I finished it!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- ella wilder
- 04-12-22
What a wonderful wonderful story
Thankyou so much Karen !!! It was marvellous. I momentarily studied Chaucer at school and found it as dull as could be. It’s not for people in their early teens. But here I am listening awestruck ( and grateful I was not around in mediaeval England). The story was full of pace and empathy and it was good to note that not all the men were loathsome hypocrites. I loved the insightful portrayal of the woman and gasped at the horror they had to endure. Very well done and Thankyou for giving us a happy(ish) ending. It’s is the first of your books I have heard, and will be onto the next ( something to do with locksmiths in 15C England) immediately. I was totally immersed with your writing and this is the longest review I have done. Well worth everyone listening to this.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- A. Moorhouse Sacred Earth
- 02-03-23
loved it
loved every moment of this book, was hooked on the first five minutes and couldn't stop listening.
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- Cidergirl
- 17-07-22
highly recommended
Loved it, full of medieval atmosphere and interesting plots. Will seek other work by the author.
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- Carrie-Anne Lavender
- 11-10-22
gripping and original story
At 19 hours for a new author I took a risk but I'm glad I did. Rich in historical detail, compelling and original. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was sad to say goodbye to a the characters at the end
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 27-06-22
THE GOOD WIFE
What a tremendous novel. I would recommend anyone to listen. Fran Burgoyne narration is perfect.
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- Mair
- 03-10-22
Wonderful! The best I’ve read all year!
My first foray into Karen Brook’s work, it certainly won’t be the last. She wends a clever, at times humerus, sometimes tragic path through medieval England, pushing us all the time to think about the nature of love, of what it means to be human, and the constant search for the right of women to be in control of their own lives.
The research is immaculate, the premise always in sight, the writing powerful and masterly.
Fran Burgoyne’s performance is perfect, bringing to life Eleanor/Alison and all the other tumult of characters.
This is the best thing I’ve read all year!
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1 person found this helpful