Heretic's Wife

The Heretic's Wife focuses on the volatile years of a crisis for the Catholic Church, whose rigid doctrine has dictated the exposure of the common man to the Bible and its interpretation. Couched in the personal story of Kate Gough and her marriage to translator John Frith, the human face in the novel vacillates between Kate's life in Antwerp and Henry VIII's demand that the Church nullify his marriage to Katherine of Aragon that he might wed Anne Boleyn. A bookseller whose London shop secretly sells translations of the Bible for common folk with her brother, John, the Gough's come from a long line of those who believe- heretically- that the words of the Bible are meant for the common man, not just the exclusive interpretation of Catholic priests. But a recent campaign to remove these heretics from England leaves John Gough a broken man after an arrest and Kate in love with translator John Frith, who has endured long imprisonment but still carries the fire of his beliefs. The author uses her considerable skills in manipulating a tale that ranges from London to Antwerp, from the king's bedchamber to the marriage bed of a young woman caught in the mad drama of religious intolerance: "Isn't it sad what God-fearing folk will do to other God-fearing folk?" After a dramatic meeting between Kate and Frith and a daring rescue by a sea captain, Kate throws her lot in with Frith, the newlyweds residing in Antwerp, where John will eventually collaborate with William Tyndale. The stage is set for confrontation on the most tragic of terms. For while Henry is leaning towards the reformist movement thanks to Boleyn's behind-the-scenes machinations, he is also grappling with a recalcitrant Church that refuses to allow the annulment he so desperately desires. And key to the unfolding drama is Chancellor Thomas More, whose passion for burning heretics exceeds his willingness to consider Henry's "great matter". The result is yet another riveting cliffhanger by Rickman Vantrease, who combines period detail with the disparate religious beliefs of her main characters and the unfolding drama of the Catholic Church's confrontation with the reformists. To be sure, the profit motive of the Church is considerable, a great source of revenue found in "penance pilgrimages" and the centralization of power. That Henry chooses this time to break from tradition adds more fuel to the fire. Kate is a simple woman, her husband's commitment to his mission no match for the religious fervor of fanatical Thomas More or an outraged king. But the author's juxtaposition of commoner and king is beautifully rendered, an apt metaphor for ordinary folk vs. the powerful. The result is, as usual, a stimulating and informative tale of faith, fanaticism and the centuries' long battle for the souls of men. Luan Gaines/2010.

The Heretic's Wife is the kind of historical fiction we all want to read: a compelling story set in wonderfully interesting times. Brenda Rickman Vantrease delivers not only the Tudor England of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII, and a far more interesting than usual Thomas More, but also that of wonderfully-imagined characters of less regal stature, all based in historical fact. Kate Gough is a character anyone would want to follow. She, her brother John, and translator John Frith feel the full impact of the dangers of making the Bible available in English. I could not put this fine book until I'd reached its very satisfying conclusion.

In 1528 at Gouch's Book and Print Shop, siblings John and Kate Gough obtain banned protestant bibles and translate them into English at a time when the Lutheran reformation is outlawed. When John is caught and arrested, he saves his life by recanting his sins. His sister Kate understands why he repudiated his activity, but refuses to retract her actions and beliefs. Kate meets and falls in love with biblical translator John Frith. He takes her to safety in Antwerp as religious wars seem imminent in England. King Henry VIII is increasingly frustrated with the Pope's inaction on his petition to sanction a marriage to his mistress Anne Boleyn so he begins to look towards the Lutheran doctrine. To the contrary, Catholic supporter Thomas More burns heretics to keep England loyal to the Vatican. In these dangerous times, Protestants are subject to a heresy death penalty especially inside of England but even those who fled to tolerant Holland. This is a refreshing superb Tudor historical that focuses on the impact of the religious wars on the working class. Perhaps the biggest adjustment for readers is Sir Thomas More as a fanatic willing to torture and burn heretics, a far cry from A Man for All Seasons. With a rare for novels of that era modern day relevance, Brenda Rickman Vantrease pulls no punches as she provides a profound look at what the royal-papal dispute does to the every-person English. Harriet Klausner