Book Review: "The Importance of Wives" by Keira Morgan
Morgan delivers a powerfully nuanced story about the 16th-century Anne of Brittany, the duchess who fought against French dominance.
Keira Morgan’s The Importance of Wives delivers a powerful story about Anne of Brittany, a fifteenth-century noblewoman and duchess who later became Queen of France. Immensely detailed and engaging, the novel explores the complex nature of French medieval politics and those who chose to stand against French annexation.
Synopsis
It’s September 1488. The last male scion of the House of Montfort, Francis II, has passed away. Francis ruled as sovereign over the independent Duchy of Brittany, a promontory in what is now northwestern France. He left behind two young daughters as heirs, Anne and Isabeau. Where could have proceeded a peaceful succession (however unlikely), a dynastic struggle instead ensues.
Anne, a mere girl of eleven, has inherited a rich and vibrant duchy, one eyed for annexation by neighboring France. Anne’s guardians plot to marry her to Alain d’Albret, an ambitious nobleman, to solidify their control over Brittany. Strong-willed and determined Anne, however, defies their orders, sparking a civil war. And then France invades.
The duchess knows she must marry. Such is the fate of noble heiresses, after all. But the difficulty lies in finding a husband who will protect her interests and defend her duchy’s independence. Can Anne succeed? And will she come to an accord with France? The answers to these questions lie at the heart of The Importance of Wives, the third novel in the Chronicles of the House of Valois series.
Review
The Importance of Wives centers on the intelligent and tenacious Anne of Brittany, the Duchess of Brittany and later Queen of France. Many know how this story already plays out: Anne becomes the twice-ruling Queen of France and the French acquire Brittany. And yet, it's hard to ascribe motives and feelings towards all that happened during the Franco-Breton conflict as we just don't have a plethora of personal sources.
Despite this, Keira Morgan admirably dives headfirst into this historic grey area to imagine Anne's story in an authentic way. Morgan's duchess is a strong-willed, occasionally intransigent, young girl determined to navigate the various political factions at play. Anne's youth seems at odds with her maturity, as she makes nuanced decisions with political acuity normally ascribed to someone without such expansive experience (notwithstanding her councilors). And yet, Anne is no ordinary lady; she’s the daughter of a formidable family and stands poised to make an indelible mark on history.
Morgan admirably portrays the political complexities and personalities of Franco-Breton relations between 1488 and 1491. She also provides a glossary of terms and characters to help acclimate readers. For someone relatively unfamiliar with this subject, as I am, this was immensely helpful.
Overall, The Importance of Wives is a well-written, beautifully-constructed novel about a remarkably tenacious and intelligent medieval woman trying to safeguard her birthright amidst a system designed to undermine and remove her authority and agency.
The Importance of Wives comes out on May 31, 2024, and is available for pre-order! Thank you to Keira, the publisher, and Book Sirens for a copy of this story in return for a review!
Book Summary
Title:Â The Importance of Wives
Author: Keira Morgan
Publisher: Publishing FRF Éditions
Publication Year:Â May 2024
Page Count:Â 381pp (Kindle eBook)
Featured image: View of the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany in Nantes, France, at sunset (Canva/RossHelen)
Someone I've read about in my research into Henry VII, Maximilian I and Charles VIII but I am so interested to see how the author tells the story of Anne. Her marriage to Maximilian, how she decides to succumb to Charles and what it was like for her during his reign.
Anne is a Renaissance fav. Hope this book does her justice.