Good Wives?Mary,Fanny,Jenny and Me (Margaret Forster)

This biography was recommended to me by a member of my Reading Group-her enthusiasm knew no bounds,and I soon began to understand why!This review from Amazon UK is typical of the reactions of our group members as the book was passed around over the following months:

"I really enjoyed both aspects of this book. The biographical sections regarding the 3 historical characters: Mary, wife of the explorer David Livingstone; Fanny, the American wife of R L Stevenson; and Jennie Lee, wife of Aneurin Bevan were obviously meticulously researched and worthy of a book in themselves. The other aspect of 'Good Wives?' - the details of Margaret Forster's marriage to Hunter Davies and the comparisons she makes with these earlier marriages was also fascinating. I have read most of the author's ficion and have also enjoyed her two family memoirs, 'Hidden Lives' and 'Precious Lives' so I was intrigued to find out more about her personal life. Thank you Margaret for sharing this with your readers and for making me aware of parts of my own marriage which I have never analysed. "

What was going on?The  quote from the Mail On Sunday visible on the front cover explains all: "Forster raises crucial questions and provides some provocative answers about what it means to be a wife,good or otherwise."

Married?Read it.Unmarried?Still highly recommended-especially if you plan to marry someone exceptional!