The Owl Was a Baker’s Daughter: The Continuing Adventures of Judith Shakespeare – Stellar Historical Fiction: A Woman Fleeing Witchcraft, War, and Loss

by Grace Tiffany

"Witty, resilient, and fiercely intelligent, Judith emerges as a heroine for the ages. Her journey, rich in historical authenticity and imaginative storytelling, offers insights that resonate across the centuries."—Christina Baker Kline, New York Times bestselling author of The Exiles

For readers of Hilary Mantel and Madeline Miller, a deeply engrossing work of historical fiction—a tale about a woman of the Shakespeare family struggling to manage both her private grief and public danger.

At the age of sixty-one, Judith Shakespeare, a midwife-apothecary and twin of the long-dead Hamnet, must flee provincial Stratford on horseback to avoid arrest for witchcraft. Her traveling companions are a zealous Puritan woman and child who have been displaced by civil war—the bloody seventeenth-century strife between Royalists and Roundheads. Judith is also leaving her marriage, which has foundered since the wrenching loss of two adult sons to the plague.

The sequel to the author’s My Father Had a Daughter, a tale of Judith in her youth, The Owl Was a Baker’s Daughter revisits this character for the ages—Shakespeare’s sharp-tongued, witty youngest child, no less feisty in her maturity. Four-hundred years after Judith’s death, Grace Tiffany brings her back onto center stage. Judith’s latest tale offers profound insights—into friendship, motherhood, marriage, religious extremism, and war—which remain resoundingly true today.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Shakespeare, British Literature, Historical, Audiobook, 17th Century

254 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 4, 2025

About the author

Grace Tiffany is an American writer who lives and teaches in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Her novels include MY FATHER HAD A DAUGHTER (2003), WILL (2004), THE TURQUOISE RING (2005), ARIEL (2006), PAINT (2013), GUNPOWDER PERCY (2016), and her latest, THE OWL WAS A BAKER'S DAUGHTER (2025). She has also translated writings by the Argentine author Jorge Luis Borges and the Mexican author Maria Luisa Puga.

Reviews

[Dianne Alvine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Grace Tiffany, who is a professor of Shakespeare and Renaissance studies at Western Michigan University, has written an amazing story of historical fiction about Shakespeare's daughter, Judith.

The story takes place in the mid- seventeenth century in Stratford, England where Judith lives with her husband Thomas Quiney. Judith is a feisty, 61 year old woman, who is an apothecary and a mid-wife.

At the beginning of the story, judith is compelled to leave her home because she might be arrested for witchcraft. She is accompanied by a young woman and a little girl, who have been displaced because of the civil war. Eventually they find themselves in London, where there is much political and religious unrest that leads to war between the Roundheads and Parliament.

I enjoyed Judith's character. She had a sharp tongue, and was very witty and feisty. It was sad to learn that the two sons she bore had died as young boys during the Plague. Also, that her twin brother, Hamnet, had been a victim of drowning.

Alluding to the title of the book, it's said that in the play Hamlet, it's Ophelia that speaks the following lines, 'They say the owl is a baker's daughter.' Encountering an owl could be interpreted as a message from the spirit world, serving a reminder of wisdom and intuitive guidance that's available to us.

I had a unique and astonishing experience while reading this book. I had put the book down to briefly look outside my window. To my surprise, I saw an Owl! sitting on the railing of the deck. We briefly looked at each other and then he flew away!

My thanks to Goodreads for this giveaway.

[Moonkiszt · Rating 5 out of 5]

From whence comes this intriguing title? Hamlet, Act Four, Part Two. . . .

Ophelia is at full lilt, singing ominous floral tones when King Claudius tries to distract her. . .

CLAUDIUS
How do you, pretty lady?

OPHELIA
Well, God 'ild you!* They say the owl was a baker's daughter#. Lord, we know what we are, but know not what we may be.& God be at your table!**

CLAUDIUS
Conceit upon her father.

*"God Yield to you" is a kind greeting, a blessing
#The Owl and the Baker's Daughter is an old medieval story, a European cautionary fable of false generosities and pretended virtues. Google it! Very interesting.
&This poor girl's point, if anyone in the room gets it. . . .
**"God be at your table" - same - a blessing to conclude her warning of future uncertainties.

On to Grace Tiffany's The Owl Was a Baker's Daughter: The Continuing Adventures of Judith Shakespeare . Yes, she's the daughter of William Shakespeare, and the twin of Hamnet - real children born to Mr. and Mrs. S of Stratford-on-Avon. Hamnet died at 11, while Judith survived him and this read reimagines her life after her bumpy marriage to Thomas Q becomes something worthy of escape. Weaving in the religious efforts of Cromwell v King Charles made this historical fiction even more interesting to me.

Tiffany's book second book about Judith Shakespeare will attract a certain demographic, but probably broader than only Shakespeare fans. For Judith is fierce, determined and is convinced that every battle fought in the cause of women having more freedom and rights (beyond service to men) even if not victorious is of value in its purpose to keep the inspirational flame alight. Whether this really is Shakespeare's Judith's life purpose - we'll never know - but the author's message rang bells in my heart which is the best part of reading.

Last of all - this was a listen for me - and what a treat! The narrator, Mary Jane Wells, was incredible, using actual pronunciation of Shakespeare's time rather than ours or some plummy version of England's 2025 EnglishSpeak (which is lovely and sexy, of course, but this . . . mmmmh, mmmh, mmH!) It took a minute to readjust my brain cells, but once in I was thrilled all the way into the 1600's. . .

I knew who I was going in, and coming out on this side of the read. . . .I'm better for it! I highly recommend.

[cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite good! 4.5 stars...rounding up was an easy decision.

Shakespeare's daughter, Judith, is our protagonist. Knowing a little of the Bard's work helps, but it isn't required (he's in a memory or two). The plot is set after his passing and in an England that doesn't value the arts the way Queen Elizabeth had in her reign.

Judith is imagined as a midwife and apothecary in her late years (60s or 70s, i think), but she also provides other medical assistance to men, women, and children. When a baby falls sick after she and two somewhat unexpected aides assist at the birth, Judith is accused of being a witch. This leads Judith and her companions to flee. They find themselves plunged into an England struggling amid major conflict bw the king and a rebelling parliament.

I read for character, but this really offers both strong multifaceted characters and a story. There are some bits that feel farfetched, but Im not a stickler for such things (and easier to ignore when history was never my strength). I really liked the setting generally and the way the author shows how an internal conflict impacts the citizenry.

Is the backdrop historically accurate? Not a clue. Wasn't looking for a true history, just good fiction that I could dive into...characters and a place i could visit for a bit. Strong writing, imaginative tale, characters that had layers and imperfections and reflected a range of views/roles.

Ty to the publisher, which provided an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced the content of my review.

PS I was a bit unsure about diving in without reading a prior installment (apparently set much earlier in the protagonist's life) , but it didn't cause any issues. And I've definitely got my eyes out for a copy of the earlier one (recognize i might have gotten some spoilers from this read).

[Lesley Potts · Rating 4 out of 5]

How refreshing that the protagonist is a sixty-something matron. She reminded me a little of Claire Beauchamp of Outlander fame, although Judith is infinitely more interesting than the Sassenach has become in the latest installment. The resemblance is probably due to their shared profession as there's no time travel apart from in Judith's head. I loved all the references to The Midlands which is where my ancestors were stomping around at the time of the novel. Especially Newark on Trent where a significant line in my family tree originates from. The author paints a vivid picture of life in England during the Civil War but it's a lively, funny, sometimes tender portrayal. I haven't read the prequel but that made no difference in my reading pleasure. I do want to read it though as I hadn't had quite enough of Judith's tale.

[Minna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tiffany was brilliant with her characterizations and setting. I enjoyed spending time with Judith, Jane and Pearl as they fled the English Civil War and/or witchcraft allegations. The meeting with the highway man was my favorite hilarious scene.

Mary Jane Wells’ spirited narration in Early Modern English brought fun and richness to Tiffany’s novel. It’s impossible to say how the experience would have been different if I had read instead of listening. But certainly I wouldn’t have misunderstood the little girl’s name through out, thinking it was Peril of Great Price, which I thought was hysterically funny and fitting the girl’s rambunctious nature. I was slightly disappointed to later learn it’s Pearl of Great Price (still funny).

I haven’t read Tiffany’s previous novel about Judith’s youth but now plan to find it.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book on so many levels. First of course is the character Judith, so fierce and strong and yet so believably human. The multitude of Shakespearean quotes, jewels dropped into the pages for us to find. The re-creation of the times- the food, clothing, language, places, historic events. And the twist at the end of the book! I had to read the book a second time to pick up all the clues to the puzzle that I had missed. A lovely, satisfying, and astonishing story!

[Dodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell several years ago, I was hopeful The Owl Was a Baker's Daughter would similarly knock my socks off. I liked this book a lot, but for me, it doesn't compare to Hamnet. Judith Shakespeare is a strong, quick-witted, perspicacious protagonist. When she must leave suddenly to escape accusations of witchcraft, her troublesome traveling companions add both humor and drama to the struggle. Grace Tiffany shows us a resilient woman in her 60s to admire.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Grace Tiffany book, thank you Harper Collins and Goodreads Giveaways. (Once long ago I was an English major.)This is right up my alley with the Old English-ish.) I really really enjoyed it. It was a good story. The main character is Judith Shakespeare, William Shakespeare’s daughter. It’s her story detailing her adventures and misadventures as it were. I found it entertaining, and I was laughing out loud on occasion. Some of the characters were colorful and brought comedic relief! Well done Ms. Tiffany what a delightful book!

[Sarah-Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Owl Was a Baker's Daughter offers "the continuing adventures" of Judith Shakespeare, who was earlier the central character in Tiffany's My Father Had a Daughter—a novel I haven't read, so I can't say anything about Judith's prior adventures. The Owl Was a Baker's Daughter is set during the English Civil War, which features in the novel's second half.

The adventures begin because Judith, a midwife, is accused of witchcraft after a baby she delivered grows ill. This is the kind of accusation that might be life-threatening but also might blow over, so Judith leaves Stratford, along with Jane, a maid/friend who is also aunt of an illegitimate child who may have been sired by Judith's side of the family. That child, Pearl, accompanies the two women on their travels.

Jane is a fierce evangelist (I think that would be the word), who sees sin everywhere, can jump into sermonizing at a moment's notice, and has almost the entirety of the Bible memorized. She's convinced that the royalists are on the side of the devil, which makes her a dangerous traveling companion as fighting moves across the country and people are forced to choose sides. Pearl—lively, intelligent, quirky, and downright terrifying at times—is an equally problematic companion, prone to biting, cursing, and citing scriptures in a deep, sepalcure voice when it suits her.

In other words, Judith faces many possible disasters, not only because of her own actions, but also those of her companions. She also finds herself meeting characters from her past (when she snuck off to London and passed herself off as one of the boys in Shakespeare's company), which coplicates her time on the road.

The narrative here is a bit episodic, but the characters keep things united, even when the tale twists and turns. Judith leans toward the Jacobean side in the war in a lukewarm sort of way, but mostly tries to avoid sides to keep Jane and Pearl quiet. Judith is also lukewarm on the whole question of the existence of God—so there's another topic to avoid with Jane and Pearl.

This novel could almost become farce, except the characters in it are so completely and fully themselves that the reader (at least this one) isn't inclined to see them as humorous.

The Owl Was a Baker's Daughter is one of those reads one can sink into. It's not necessarily compelling, but it's a place to be and think and... be. When you're looking for a thoughtful read that will engage you while simultaneously inspiring your thoughts to wander, you might want to choose The Owl Was a Baker's Daughter.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via, Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.

[Mackay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I should be the target reader for this novel: set during the English Civil War; an older woman protagonist; lots of Shakespeare; good writing.
But.
Perhaps, had I read the first book, I might have experienced more attachment to the characters. Perhaps. I found I didn't care very much...especially as there were a few anachronisms that bothered me--the author is a scholar of the era, after all, and such errors are hard to overlook, harder to forgive. The worst one is Judith's seeing a dome on St Paul's Cathedral as she enters London...but no, the Wren domed cathedral we all know was raised after the Great Fire, which occurred during Charles II's Restoration, not during his father's Civil War. One of the tragedies of the Great Fire was the loss of the Gothic St Paul's, notable for its tall (mostly wooden) spires...or so everybody thought, until Wren's masterpiece rose in its place. (Think of those awful pictures of the recent fire in Notre Dame de Paris.)
It seems as if nobody bothers with the details in historical fiction anymore, and such errors, small or large, sour the books for me. But that's only one reason this book didn't hit with this reader. It was the lack of my empathy for or interest in the fate of these characters.

[Amy Oleary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace Tiffany’s Judith Shakespeare, who is 61 as the novel opens, is a tough, witty, delightful heroine, a grieving healer, in a story that takes the reader through the civil, religious, and social conflicts of 17th century England. As imagined by Shakespeare scholar Tiffany, the grown-up Judith is every bit as charismatic and gutsy as she was as a girl and young woman in the first book in the series, “My Father Had a Daughter.” I couldn’t put this new book down, and in fact can’t wait to go back and re-read the first Judith book.

[Ashley Scow · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn’t incredibly clear this was supposed to be a sequel to My Father Had a Daughter, despite the title, so I’m unsure if I missed anything pertinent to her story since I haven’t read MFHAD.

The narration in Olde English was enjoyable and charming. I appreciated reading a journey of an older woman as a main character.

While I’m aware that historical fiction is not my favorite genre, I keep attempting to find one that tickles my fancy. This didn’t do it unfortunately. I’m sure others will enjoy it more than I did.

[Sarah Swedberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this not only for Grace Tiffany's excellent writing and good storytelling, but also for the history.

I was unsurprised, when I finished the novel and read Tiffany's bio, that she is a Shakespeare scholar.

[Jgrace · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Owl Was a Baker’s Daughter - Grace Tiffany
Audio performance by Mary Jane Wells (a 5 star performance)
5 stars

I was a less than enthusiastic reader of Hamnet. Although Maggie O’Farrell’s fictional tale of Shakespeare’s family was beautifully written, it left me feeling so sad and defeated. Grace Tiffany’s further adventures of Judith Shakespeare Quiney made me laugh and left me with a feeling of triumph.

Time divides a female into three selves, girl-child and prime woman and old mother. There’s naught to be gained by feigning to be something you once were, and are no longer. When you try, you stop being a person, and start being a ghost.

This book is not a comedy. It is in many ways deeply tragic. Judith is the ‘old mother’ of her own story, sixty one years old in a year of personal and political crisis. Her marriage is faltering following the death of two sons to plague. England continues to suffer the upheaval of its civil war. Religious fervor and turmoil reigns. Judith is a midwife, apothecary and surgeon. She and her newly hired female assistant are accused of witchcraft. She escapes Stratford and heads to London. Judith doesn’t ‘feign’ who she once was, but she is forced to confront her past.

The story is told in Judith’s voice. Mary Jane Welles captures that voice with its 17th century pronunciation in a way that perfectly enhances the telling. Judith is unconventional in many ways. She has a flaring temper that soon gives way to forgiveness. She’s sharp witted and snarky but also fair minded and sincere. She grieves deeply but has a wry ability to see humor in most situations. She is tirelessly compassionate. She’s a survivor.

I have difficulty remembering the details of Agnes Shakespeare’s character as O’ Farrell portrayed her. Judith Quiney will stay with me. She is still vibrantly alive. I’d like to sit down with her, two old crones, and share a cup of ‘tay’ or ‘java’.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Sandi Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A historical fiction novel which I enjoyedreading. William Shakespeare 's daughter Judith Shakespeare Quiney apothrcatrix and midwife caring for the sick and delivering babies now at the age of sixty-one must flee provincial Stratford to avoid arrest for witchcraft. She was taught Paracelsian healing by her deceased brother in law, Doctor John Hall, late husband of her sister Susanna. Jane Simcox, a Puritan woman, and her mischievous six year old niece Pearl, both displaced by the civil war between the Royalists and Roundheads show up on her doorstep looking for work and a place to stay ended up fleeing with Judith who has left husband Thomas behind. Her travels take her to London, where she reunites with an old love, Nathan Field, from her acting days with her father and to the battlefield outside Oxford. After his defeat at the hands of the Parliamentarian New Model Army, being thought of as a traitor, King Charles fled north from his base at Oxford with help from Nathan. Judith leaves Nathan and ends up with the wifes and mothers of soldiers where she serves as a surgeon for Cromwell's forces. There she meets soldiers from New England's Tears for England from Boston, Massachusetts. Judith's story offers insights into friendship, motherhood, marriage, religion and war.
#GoodreadsGiveaway

[Mary M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shakespeare scholar Grace Tiffany has taken historical events & characters & filled in some unknowns with a story centering on identity, loss, & relationships within the backdrop of The English Civil War when Charles I (his father had succeeded Elizabeth I) came into conflict with the English Parliament & with the burgeoning Reform Protestant movement (which included Puritans, Calvinists, & Scottish Presbyterians). Charles Stuart & his Royalist supporters were defeated in 1645 & Charles later executed.

Judith Shakespeare Quiney was the younger daughter of William & his wife Anne. Susanna was the older sister & Judith's twin was Hamnet who died at age 11 of unknown cause (in this telling of a drowning witnessed by his sister). An earlier book by this author focused on Judith's early life, but it was not available from my library.

In this telling, Judith is now in her later years, perhaps 60-ish, & is a midwife, an apothecary, & surgeon, aiding the inhabitants of Stratford with her assistance at births, her collected herbs & cures, & minor surgical procedures. She & her husband raised two surviving sons to young adulthood, only to lose them to disease within a very short time. Their marriage has suffered from the ravages of this grief & they sometimes revisit the misunderstandings & jealousies of their younger years.

The plot is propelled by a commotion at the childbirth of a local woman & when her baby begins to become ill with signs of jaundice, a charge of witchcraft begins to be whispered about. Knowing this to be a dangerous situation, although Judith did nothing wrong, Quiney sends Judith & her newly-arrived servant/assistant Jane & Jane's young niece out of town headed to a nearby cousin. Fearing that this is too nearby for safety Judith continues on to London.

It is in London, that Judith & Jane begin to confront the divisions of religion & opposition/loyalty to the banished king & are pulled into the drama of this historical moment.

I enjoyed the book & if I have any quibble it is with the title which seems relevant to only a very small slice of the book.

[Sonderous Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daughter of the famous William Shakespeare, Judith once spent her youth chasing London dreams and fleeing ghosts. Now a woman of 61, shaped by marriage, loss, and her work as a midwife, she finds herself in an accidental adventure that will bring her back to friends and places of her youth as they are altered by war. In the company of the zealous Jane and spritely (perhaps demonic) Pearl, Judith flees Stratford to London to escape the accusations of being a witch. Once in London, she becomes entangled in a plot to save the king, a task that would rival even her father’s most famous machinations. With so much going on, will Judith ever make it home? And will she even want to?

Grace Tiffany, a professor of Shakespeare and Renaissance drama, brings to life Shakespeare’s youngest daughter to explore the English Civil War, the role of women in the midst of war, how grief spurs us to (in)actions, and how secrets don't stay buried with the dead. Despite never having read the first novel, I fell in love with Judith. She was witty, clever, and an introspective character that offers a new lens to view history outside the anthropological recollections and recordings.

As a film and literature teacher, one of the classes I teach is a British Literature course. It is expected (and I would be remiss if I didn't) that we cover one of Shakespeare’s works and his life. So, for all I know regarding the Shakespeare name, I knew surprisingly little about Judith. This novel allowed me to meet her as she would have been in life. I laughed and cried with her as she loved, lost, and grieved those lights in her life that flickered out. I also started to investigate on my own, contemplating what we know of her life.  

With this novel, I stopped seeing Shakespeare as this unapproachable figure in history, and started seeing him as human. Just as I found Judith beautifully, wonderfully, human. “The Owl was a Baker’s Daughter” is as it promises to be, a touching tale about what makes us human. We are in equal measures the past we leave behind, the promises we make, and the people we love.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this. When I first saw it, I thought "Shakespeare's daughter? Is this author just capitalizing on Hamnet's success?" And to tell the truth, there was probably not a lot of need for this character to be the daughter of Shakespeare. But it was so good, I didn't really care. Although I have to say, it is actually a good read-alike for Hamnet.

First of all, I listened to the audiobook, and it was spectacular. The reader was wonderful, and as the book is set in the 17th century- during England's civil war- she read it in a kind of old English. Was it authentic? I have no idea. But it really worked and I understood it easily and enjoyed it.

I didn't realize until I was pretty deep into it that it's a sequel to another book this author wrote about the same character, Judith (which sadly isn't available as an audiobook from my library system). It didn't matter that I hadn't read that one first. In this one, she's 61. She's skilled with healing and herbs, and makes a living setting bones, prescribing and making medicines, and helping to deliver babies. She's married, but the marriage has gotten kind of stale and full of grief, as they lost one child when he was a baby and two more, who grew to adulthood, to the Plague.

A stranger shows up with a very odd, imaginative child, and the story takes off from there, and Judith winds up going to London, where she hasn't been for decades, and encountering an old flame.

Judith was a great character to spend time with. I loved the depiction of a woman who is in her 60s and is still very much alive, and also has some of the wisdom and self-knowledge that living through so much of a lifetime can bring. I loved how good she was at her job, too. The author truly brought this time period to life, and created dialogue that was lively, satisfying and often funny.

[George Otte · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Owl Was a Baker’s Daughter (the title is something said by Ophelia in Hamlet,/i> is an excellent work of historical fiction for having all requisites, above all a fascinating time to focus on, as well as a sympathetic and first-rate mind to filter that through. It’s almost incidental that that the protagonist is Shakespeare’s youngest, Judith. Her paternity may have mattered more in the novel that preceded this one, when Judith was much younger. Here she is over 60, and that brings her into the time of England’s civil war, the struggle between the Puritan Roundheads and the Royalist Cavaliers. As the novel begins, Judith is still in Stratford, but an accusation of witchcraft forces her to flee, with a young cousin and a younger child (not hers) in tow. Judith is a midwife/apothecary, and something that happened at a birth she attended has prompted the charge. The consequent flight is from one danger to another as the three females head south, where the fighting concentrated. They are accosted by a highwayman, knock about London, then go to Oxford, about the only Royalist stronghold left, and the reputed whereabouts of the king. Judith’s medical skills are in demand, but so is an almost forgotten part of her past, as a player, when she meets an old actor friend for whom playacting is now key to a desperate plot he wants her help with. However unlikely some twists and turns of the plot might be, Judith is a steady compass, ever sensible, knowledgeable, self-critical, and sly. She navigates this time of tumult well, and touches on its many distinctions, its upheavals of religion, limitations of medicine, new fangled means of warfare (notably those powered by gunpowder), and enduring truths about the bonds of country and family.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Owl Was a Baker's Daughter will appeal to readers of The Frozen River, with a lighter hook and plot. In both TFR and this book, I enjoyed experiencing a vibrant and believable historical world unfolding through the eyes of a witty and capable main character. I loved this take on Shakespeare's Daughter, Judith - a fantastic protagonist. She's spirited and wise, having lived and loved and lost so many dear to her, including her children. I am no expert on this particular part of English history, but I gather from a bit of googling that Grace Tiffany is well respected for her historical accuracy. I feel that it was believable, evoking a whole world of politics and cultural change without belaboring historical points. The story is compelling, amusing, and emotional. Tiffany strikes a nice balance between strong emotions and gentle questions about meaning, religion, and relationships through Judith's POV. Judith is relatable to modern readers. Her reputation as a midwife and surgeon is destroyed (for a time) by a patient who falsely attributes her baby's jaundice to some spiritual nonsense. But this affords her the opportunity to have an adventure and reassess her life, even as a woman in her sixties. I recommend the audio book which was performed by Mary Jane Wells and captures wonderfully the voice of Judith, including some historically accurate pronunciations that will not inhibit your understanding of the words, but simply enhance the authenticity of the voice of Judith. It's a quick read/listen. Looking forward to other novels by this author.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engrossing, emotional, full of depth, gripping, and poignant, “The Owl Was a Baker’s⁣ Daughter” is a powerful historical fiction novel set in the 17th Century. The novel centers⁣ around the later years of Judith Shakespeare’s life, the younger daughter of William Shakespeare.⁣
⁣
Though this novel is a sequel to Grace Tiffany’s book “My Father Had a Daughter”, I think it absolutely can be read as a stand-alone novel as well (though I highly recommend the first book too!). Ms. Tiffany’s writing is incredibly visceral, and I felt completely immersed in the world from the first page to the last. She seamlessly weaves history and fiction, people who actually lived with some original to this novel and / or the first book, historical events, both political and personal conflicts of different types, symbolism, and so much more, and this book truly was one I did not want to put down.⁣
⁣
Judith is a strong-willed, smart, and brave woman and healer with a strong survival instinct. I don’t want to say too much about the plot due to spoilers, but, I will say, this novel has so much in it: moving moments, moments that had me on the edge of my seat, twists and turns, strong characterization, strong world-building, a plot that moves at the perfect pace, some Shakespearean references (including the title itself!), humor sprinkled throughout, and so much more.⁣
⁣
I highly recommend this book, and I so look forward to reading what Ms. Tiffany writes next!⁣
⁣
Thank you so much to Harper and Grace Tiffany for the ARC of this book. All opinions⁣ expressed in this review are my own.⁣
⁣

[Tom Axworthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enlightening and thoroughly enjoyable historical fiction novel.Grace Tiffany is a scholar of Shakespeare and the central character in The Owl Was A Bakers Daughter is Judith Shakespeare, youngest daughter of the immortal playright, but now in her 60s caught in the middle of the English Civil War. Judith refers to her father occasionally and remembers her upbringing in Stratford in the 1580s but the novel is set in a much later period in the 1640s and Tiffany describes well what it must have been like to be caught in a war of Englishman versus Englishman. Characters like Charles 1 and Oliver Cromwell are central to one of the main plots of the story( Judith is caught inside Oxford the capital of Charles Stuart when Cromwell's forces lay siege to the city.) And Judith befriends Jane,a young servant girl( a baker's daughter) who is a fervant believer in Puritanism, so through Jane we learn about the religious passions that consumed England in that era.Judith has a trade as an healer and during the war as a battlefield surgeon, so she is a woman who has trod her own road( as does Jane) Judith has suffered great tragedies in her life like the death of her sons from the plague and her twin brother Hamnet from drowning ,plus enduring a troubled marriage. But through it all Judith is a strong, independent , humane and funny character and her story as told is worthy of Will Shakespeare himself.

[Valerie Geary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love any kind of historical fiction that centers the voices of women left out of the popular known narrative, and thus I really enjoyed this book for many of the same reasons that I thoroughly enjoyed America’s First Daughter.

Our heroine here is Judith, daughter of Shakespeare, about whom not a lot is known other than basic biographical facts. The author relies on those facts - Judith, in real life and in this novel, had a tumultuous marriage and three children who all died young. The story that spins from there is a witty one full of adventure and strife that offers a wonderful insight into English life in the 1600s.

Though set 400+ years ago, I found the book to have a pretty startling modern sensibility (e.g., Judith is forced to flee her home and go into hiding because as a skilled female healer, she garners suspicion and obviously must be a witch). She’s clever, cunning, and brave - a protagonist who is very easy to root for and provides a stark contrast to the grimy city surrounding her.

This is a sequel; I haven’t read the first book in the series, which follows Judith as a young girl, but I didn’t feel a lack of context at all. It easily stands on its own. I also haven’t read Hamnet yet, the reimagined story of Judith’s twin, but this book made me want to move that one further up my (never ending) to-be-read pile.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

🦉The Owl Was A Baker’s Daughter🦉
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I’ll preemptively say I didn’t realize this was a follow up to a previous novel in this universe, but that did not detract from how absolutely enthralled I was with Judith’s story. Grace Tiffany is a master of magical realism, the balance between Judith being accused of witchcraft and her magnetism as a character leaves the reader enchanted. I don’t generally reach for an enormous amount of historical fiction but I think this novel may have changed my opinion; Judith is all wit, resilience, and a whirlwind of strength.
The Owl Was A Baker’s Daughter is one of those novels you can tell will hold its own far past its publication date. Judith’s dedication to her community and, for lack of a better term, helping, while being run out of town under false accusations of witchcraft is a tale that seems to hold weight in any time period. I wanted to cry for her, Judith’s ability to live in her grief while navigating a war-torn England on the run was inspired and heartbreaking. It’s impossible to not love Shakespeare’s youngest daughter.
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The Owl Was A Baker’s Daughter by Grace Tiffany hits shelves 2/4/25!
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Thank you so much to Grace Tiffany and @harpercollins for this review copy💖

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being in the pages of this book was absolute love for me. I entered the world and never wanted to end my journey. Shakespeare's daughter is now a world-weary midwife of 63, many years older than her famous but somewhat elusive father was when he died. England is in turmoil, with the king Charles I defending his monarchy against Parliament, Cromwell and the Puritans. When a baby she delivers sickens, Judith is wary of being accused of witchcraft and travels to London which is preparing for war. There she meets a man she loved in her early twenties and since her own marriage is worn and irritable, she half is tempted to start with the lover (now as old as she) again. Memories of her famous father who was never home much for her are threaded through the book. Absolutely marvelous writing! I looked up on line and saw the author's first book on the then much younger Judith Shakespeare is out of print, expensive and not on kindle. Sad! I sent for her novel on Shakespeare called WILL. I also wrote a few novels about Shakespeare and his time and all I can say of OWL is that it is utterly marvelous! Utterly!

[Candy Wood]

The subtitle alerts readers to a couple of facts about the book: it’s a sequel to My Father Had a Daughter, which I missed, and it’s historical fiction with an emphasis on adventure, or fiction. Judith Shakespeare Quiney, now 61, announces in the beginning that the year is 1646. Her famous father, her sons, and her sister’s husband (who taught her healing arts) are all dead. Instead of supporting either side, King or Parliament, in the conflict, she opposes violence. Accused of witchcraft, she flees from Stratford with a Gospelling woman and the woman’s young niece to London, where she finds the quiet Friends appealing (except that they didn’t start meeting in London until after 1652). Judith gets to talk to both King Charles and Oliver Cromwell, who both know her father’s plays well enough to quote from them. Besides, Judith herself presages Gerard Manley Hopkins when she returns to Stratford and finds its world “charged with the grandeur of God.” Still, even with those historical inconsistencies, I enjoyed the book and Judith’s strong voice. Some loose ends make me wonder if another sequel is coming.

[Lori Woehrle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saddle up, fans of British historical fiction. This lively romp through the Midlands, set during the English civil war, canters through to the end, with nary a pause for air. The protagonist, William Shakespeare's daughter Judith, is fully realized in this imaginary take on a real woman.

Professor of Shakespeare and Renaissance drama Grace Tiffany does a masterful job of sprinkling in Shakespearean references with just the right touch so that I — not a Shakespearean scholar — didn't have to fight my way through thick, unrecognizable prose.

In this tale, Judith must flee home and hearth to avoid arrest as a witch, and her journey is full of surprises, frights, bravery, and joy with a just a hint of romance.

Highly recommend this delightful read! Well-written, fast-paced, believable, and deeply rooted in a fascinating time and place in history.

[Kristie Denz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book surprised me in the best way. Judith Shakespeare - now a sixty-one-year-old midwife, apothecary, and grieving mother - is accused of witchcraft and forced to flee her home. What follows is a sharp, moving, often funny journey across war-torn England, filled with theater, danger, and unexpected companionship.

Tiffany’s writing is rich but accessible, with dialogue that echoes Shakespeare without feeling forced. Judith is a remarkable narrator - witty, weary, wise - and her voice carries the novel with grace and grit. You don’t need to read My Father Had a Daughter first, but after this, you’ll probably want to.

Perfect for fans of literary historical fiction, strong female leads, and stories about resilience in uncertain times.

[Andy Mozina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This worked for me on every level. The characters were so well-realized, distinctive and sympathetic. Judith, the narrator, is especially well-done, with a great voice, but there isn't a false note with any of the characters, including Cromwell and Charles Stuart. The plot is deft and engaging. The detailing is fantastic no matter the setting--whether it be London, Oxford under siege, the King's temporary apartments, or a battlefield; the author obviously knows this period so well, she is able to render everything as naturally and persuasively as if she were writing about a contemporary situation where she's living today. There were great moments or humor, high drama, and rich emotion. I loved this book!