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The Poet's Wife

The Poet's Wife

by JudithAllnatt (Author)

  • Used

    Hardcover 2010

    $3.47
Synopsis

It is 1841 when Patty Clare is married to John Clare: peasant poet, genius and madman. Travelling home one day, Patty is shocked to find her husband sitting, footsore and weary, on the side of the road, having absconded from an asylum in Essex over 80 miles away. Delighted to have him back in her life, she is devastated when it becomes clear that John thinks himself married twice to both Patty and his childhood sweetheart, Mary Joyce, to whom he writes long and beautiful poems. Patty loves John deeply but he seems lost to her and obsessed with an idealised memory of a woman that she cannot match. Driven to distraction with jealousy and by her large, unruly family she turns to journal writing for an escape. But, with John descending further into his own delusions, can she ever restore his true identity, and will she ever be able to conquer her own anger and hurt and find it in herself to forgive?

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Quantity

2 in stock

More Information

Format: Hardcover
 Pages: 400
 Edition: New Edition
 Publisher: Doubleday
Published: 18 Feb 2010
ISBN 10: 0385613326
ISBN 13: 9780385613323
Book Overview: A stunning novel telling the harrowing story of 19th century English poet John Clare's descent into madness, and the woman who tries to keep their love alive.

Media Reviews
Clare often pops up in fiction, but it was high time someone rescued his poor wife from footnote-land. Allnatt (herself a poet) gives her an affecting, beautifully written afterlife. The Times A beautifully written, poignant novel, lyrically descriptive of the landscape, detailed in the country life of the time and reminiscent of the gentle style of the genius peasant poet. Choice This novel will have you reaching for the nearest copy of John Clare's powerful poems Daily Mail A subtle and sympathetic portrayal of losing a loved one to mental illness...at once homely and poetic. TLS
Author Bio
Judith Allnatt lives in Northamptonshire with her husband and children. She is a teacher and a published poet. Her first novel, A Mile of River was a Radio Five Live Book of the Month and shortlisted for the Portico Prize for Literature.