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L'Histoire de Mother Naked
Par une nuit d'orage de l'an 1434, l'arrivée d'un étrange musicien perturbe la fête des marchands et des nobles de Durham. Alors qu'ils s'attendaient à ce que le ménestrel Mother Naked s'en tienne à son rang, c'est une tout autre attitude qu'il adopte à mesure des histoires contées. Celles de la famille Payne et de la famille Deepslough, celles des mauvaises récoltes et des rivalités grandissantes, celles d'un spectre et de la peur qu'il sème. Mais eux, ces puissants, qui plus que de raison s'enivrent, quel rôle tiennent-ils dans ces histoires troublantes ?
À tambour battant, L’Histoire de Mother Naked plonge le lecteur au cœur d’une période historique intensément romanesque. L'enchâssement des rebondissements captivent pour mieux offrir un regard décapant sur les rapports de classe.
Représentant d’une nouvelle génération d’auteurs britanniques ayant grandi loin des grandes villes, Glen James Brown perpétue l’esprit caustique et rebelle du nord de l’Angleterre. Après son premier roman remarqué, Ironopolis (prix Millepages 2023 et des lecteurs du festival America 2024), il change d'époque sans rien perdre de sa rage sociale.
À tambour battant, L’Histoire de Mother Naked plonge le lecteur au cœur d’une période historique intensément romanesque. L'enchâssement des rebondissements captivent pour mieux offrir un regard décapant sur les rapports de classe.
Représentant d’une nouvelle génération d’auteurs britanniques ayant grandi loin des grandes villes, Glen James Brown perpétue l’esprit caustique et rebelle du nord de l’Angleterre. Après son premier roman remarqué, Ironopolis (prix Millepages 2023 et des lecteurs du festival America 2024), il change d'époque sans rien perdre de sa rage sociale.
280 pages, Paperback
First published June 6, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
September 20, 2024
This falls squarely in what has become my favourite genre over the last years: not historical fiction, but rather 'literary fiction that happens to be set in the past.'
'Mother Naked' is the name of a 'gleeman' or minstrel who travels Northern England's towns and villages in the late 14th century, entertaining villagers and noblemen .
One night he performs for Durham's highest dignitaries, and the novel consists entirely of this single, spectacular performance: one long monologue full of twists and turns, seemingly about a legendary evil spirit on a killing spree, but in fact a story that - to their chagrin - gradually appears to involve most of the dignitaries themselves.
It is fun, smart and the language is something special.
In parallel to reading Mother Naked, I listened to a new Henry V biography and it was great to have the background of the late 14th century.
4,5 - rounded up because this type of daring books deserve a bigger readership.
'Mother Naked' is the name of a 'gleeman' or minstrel who travels Northern England's towns and villages in the late 14th century, entertaining villagers and noblemen .
One night he performs for Durham's highest dignitaries, and the novel consists entirely of this single, spectacular performance: one long monologue full of twists and turns, seemingly about a legendary evil spirit on a killing spree, but in fact a story that - to their chagrin - gradually appears to involve most of the dignitaries themselves.
It is fun, smart and the language is something special.
In parallel to reading Mother Naked, I listened to a new Henry V biography and it was great to have the background of the late 14th century.
4,5 - rounded up because this type of daring books deserve a bigger readership.
March 25, 2025
Shortlisted for the 2025 Republic of Consciousness Prize, UK & Ireland, for small presses
Shortlisted for the Winston Graham Prize for Historical Fiction
Longlisted for the 2025 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction
The 1433-1434 ledger of the Bursar of Durham Priory recorded all payments into and out of the cathedral, including money spent on entertainment. Among the many performers that year, there was a single reference to one called Modyr Nakett: Mother Naked.
Mother Naked received one groat (four pence) for their act. This was the lowest payment to any performer in over two hundred years of surviving records.
Glen James Brown's debut novel Ironopolis was featured on the inaugural Orwell Prize for Political Fiction. It combines the political - the story of an (industrial North-eastern) working class community, gradually destroyed by both the decline of the steelworks and housing redevelopment - with real-life but still haunting events such as the Great Darkness of July 2, 1968 and the more magic-realist folklore of Peg Powler, from the Legends & Superstitions Of The County Of Durham.
The factual epigraph to Mother Naked, above, explains the creative origins of the author's equally fascinating second novel. This is set wholly in the late 13th and early 14th century, and any analogies of the then feudal system to our preseny day political system won't be found on the page, but, writing this on the day a billionaire PM announced unpaid national service, will be firmly in most readers' (and one suspect the author's) minds.
Pearl! cried I, What be YOU about?
Smashing this fukkit chest, what does it look like?
You wish shatter our sole annuity against retirement?
Mother, said he, if we do not burn it anon, we expire, not retire.
And he brought down the rock again and again until that beautiful chest was naught but splinter and spelk. As it burned, he huddled close to the fragrant, buttery flames. I did likewise.
Warm, Mother?
Aye, said I, though churlishly.
Pearl sighed. Shall I tell thee thy problem?
Prithee do.
You dwell o'er much in the future.
Be that so wrong?
Staring into the Eyre that had once been a priceless Dyxover, Pearl said, For some folk, no.
But for the likes of us, futures must be razed to salvage any sort of present...
The novel is set in 1434 at Durham Cathedral. A Gleeman arrives at a banquet of the merchant's guild to entertain the revellers. But he is not who they expect - he explains that the expected performer, Melchior Blancflower, that legendary Gleeman who was one part of the fifth King Henry's court is indisposed. and he, Mother Naked, has come in his stead.
And rather than the tales of heroic exploits and daring deeds from Henry's court and foreign adventures that Melchoir would have told, my story take place much closer to hame that the blood-stomp't battlefields of France. Actually it unravelled right here, scant miles beyond Durham's city walls ...
The story he wishes to tell is:
The sorrowful, tragic tale of the Fell Wraith...
...Ah, judging by your faces, I see the name be known to some! Yet for those still in befuddlement, this dread creature goes by other titles. At Raby, they whisper of the Red Rape. In Monk-wearmuthe, the Jigging Ghost. Cestria speaks of Brok-Armed Annie. And only this past year, I heard a Priest in Shildon make this same monster the theme of his lesson after Mass, relaying the tale of the Segerston Wraith to his quaking parishioners. Segerston, said he, was a wicked village of idlers punish't by that undead fiend for its slothful denial of God, and was thus struck down...
...The crops putrefied...
...The manor house burn't to cinders...
...And the villagers butchered or else driven to frenzy, their minds smash't forever...
...Aye, friends, Segerston was near razed from the Earth. And it just occurs that Segerston was one of thine manors, Sacrist, be that true? Aye, I thought so. And though the Fell Wraith's name changes from town to town, the tale—the terror—remains the same. And where terror goes, balladry follows. Take this song I learn't from a Gleeman in Jarrow. Allow me to strum my psaltery in accompaniment
In heath and in gorse, barefoot moves she,
Gleeful `neath moonlight her terrible sallies.
For those whom misfortune bade them to see,
The crop-rotted fields her pestilence harries.
All life into death,
All death into fern.
Dance with her shadow,
As thy own manor burns...
The story Mother Naked tells is set in 1397, in the hamlet of Segerston, one of the manors of the Sacrist of the Cathedral, who is hosting the banquet alongside two special guests, his former Cellarer and his Master Mercer, also elder of the assembled Guild.
And Mother Naked's intention is to tell the real story of events behind the legends: the near destruction of Segerston in a fire, after the failure of the crops and the disintegration of the community, all blamed on a cursed Fell Wraith. But what I tell be no base ghost syory fit only fo the frightening of bairns. There be a grander purpose, Sacrist, one you should see in goode tyme.
Mother Naked's story, complete with various apparent diversion but often proving to be later relevant, then unfolds over the next 200 pages, and in real time over the course of the banquet, delivered to the increasingly intoxicated diners.
And it is one that shows the legend of the Fell Wraith is rooted in the implications and injustices of the feudal system of the time in Durham- villeins, cottars, and freemen; the Reeve elected by the hallmote juries; the Sacrist's demense administered by his Bailiff. All of which the story succeeds in conveying naturally and mainly by context rather than didactically - although given the priviliged nature of those listening, Mother Naked does have to remind them of some things.
The Parables of the Tares (Matthew 13:24–43) plays a key role, both metaphorically and literally i terms of the plant Lolium temulentum, aka darnel, which is often identified as the wheat-like weed to which Jesus referred.
The novel's narrative style has us hearing only the words, and songs, that Mother Naked delivers to the banquet. This is not a soliloquy or a speech delivered to silent listeners - it's direct and at times personal and there are clearly heckles, interruptions and strong reactions but we get only Mother Naked's counterreaction. It reminded me of how this was also done in the brilliant International Booker winning A Horse Walks into a Bar.
A fascinating and entertaining novel. It will be interested to see if the Orwell Prize picks this up next year, and it's narrative style may tip in into Goldsmiths' contention. I'd also be delighted if the press entered it into the Republic of Consciousness Prize.
The judges' citation
Set in the fifth century and narrated by an irrepressible bard called Mother Naked, this novel is bawdy, funny and tragic. The voice of Mother Naked is entirely authentic. Both an entertaining read and a serious work of historical fiction.
The publisher
Peninsula Press is an independent publisher of boundary-pushing fiction and essays formed by three booksellers in 2017 including Burley Fisher's Sam Fisher. Their initial call for submissions asked for "fiction that challenges norms (formal, aesthetic, heteropatriarchal, &c). Fiction that is literary because it pays attention to language, not because it is only about the nuclear family. We are interested in perspectives that have been traditionally consigned to genre" and their works include the brilliant Goldsmiths Prize winning Sterling Karat Gold, and the UK editions of Grimmish and Still Life. They have been longlisted 3 times, and shortlisted twice, for the Republic of Consciousness Prize
Shortlisted for the Winston Graham Prize for Historical Fiction
Longlisted for the 2025 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction
The 1433-1434 ledger of the Bursar of Durham Priory recorded all payments into and out of the cathedral, including money spent on entertainment. Among the many performers that year, there was a single reference to one called Modyr Nakett: Mother Naked.
Mother Naked received one groat (four pence) for their act. This was the lowest payment to any performer in over two hundred years of surviving records.
Glen James Brown's debut novel Ironopolis was featured on the inaugural Orwell Prize for Political Fiction. It combines the political - the story of an (industrial North-eastern) working class community, gradually destroyed by both the decline of the steelworks and housing redevelopment - with real-life but still haunting events such as the Great Darkness of July 2, 1968 and the more magic-realist folklore of Peg Powler, from the Legends & Superstitions Of The County Of Durham.
The factual epigraph to Mother Naked, above, explains the creative origins of the author's equally fascinating second novel. This is set wholly in the late 13th and early 14th century, and any analogies of the then feudal system to our preseny day political system won't be found on the page, but, writing this on the day a billionaire PM announced unpaid national service, will be firmly in most readers' (and one suspect the author's) minds.
Pearl! cried I, What be YOU about?
Smashing this fukkit chest, what does it look like?
You wish shatter our sole annuity against retirement?
Mother, said he, if we do not burn it anon, we expire, not retire.
And he brought down the rock again and again until that beautiful chest was naught but splinter and spelk. As it burned, he huddled close to the fragrant, buttery flames. I did likewise.
Warm, Mother?
Aye, said I, though churlishly.
Pearl sighed. Shall I tell thee thy problem?
Prithee do.
You dwell o'er much in the future.
Be that so wrong?
Staring into the Eyre that had once been a priceless Dyxover, Pearl said, For some folk, no.
But for the likes of us, futures must be razed to salvage any sort of present...
The novel is set in 1434 at Durham Cathedral. A Gleeman arrives at a banquet of the merchant's guild to entertain the revellers. But he is not who they expect - he explains that the expected performer, Melchior Blancflower, that legendary Gleeman who was one part of the fifth King Henry's court is indisposed. and he, Mother Naked, has come in his stead.
And rather than the tales of heroic exploits and daring deeds from Henry's court and foreign adventures that Melchoir would have told, my story take place much closer to hame that the blood-stomp't battlefields of France. Actually it unravelled right here, scant miles beyond Durham's city walls ...
The story he wishes to tell is:
The sorrowful, tragic tale of the Fell Wraith...
...Ah, judging by your faces, I see the name be known to some! Yet for those still in befuddlement, this dread creature goes by other titles. At Raby, they whisper of the Red Rape. In Monk-wearmuthe, the Jigging Ghost. Cestria speaks of Brok-Armed Annie. And only this past year, I heard a Priest in Shildon make this same monster the theme of his lesson after Mass, relaying the tale of the Segerston Wraith to his quaking parishioners. Segerston, said he, was a wicked village of idlers punish't by that undead fiend for its slothful denial of God, and was thus struck down...
...The crops putrefied...
...The manor house burn't to cinders...
...And the villagers butchered or else driven to frenzy, their minds smash't forever...
...Aye, friends, Segerston was near razed from the Earth. And it just occurs that Segerston was one of thine manors, Sacrist, be that true? Aye, I thought so. And though the Fell Wraith's name changes from town to town, the tale—the terror—remains the same. And where terror goes, balladry follows. Take this song I learn't from a Gleeman in Jarrow. Allow me to strum my psaltery in accompaniment
In heath and in gorse, barefoot moves she,
Gleeful `neath moonlight her terrible sallies.
For those whom misfortune bade them to see,
The crop-rotted fields her pestilence harries.
All life into death,
All death into fern.
Dance with her shadow,
As thy own manor burns...
The story Mother Naked tells is set in 1397, in the hamlet of Segerston, one of the manors of the Sacrist of the Cathedral, who is hosting the banquet alongside two special guests, his former Cellarer and his Master Mercer, also elder of the assembled Guild.
And Mother Naked's intention is to tell the real story of events behind the legends: the near destruction of Segerston in a fire, after the failure of the crops and the disintegration of the community, all blamed on a cursed Fell Wraith. But what I tell be no base ghost syory fit only fo the frightening of bairns. There be a grander purpose, Sacrist, one you should see in goode tyme.
Mother Naked's story, complete with various apparent diversion but often proving to be later relevant, then unfolds over the next 200 pages, and in real time over the course of the banquet, delivered to the increasingly intoxicated diners.
And it is one that shows the legend of the Fell Wraith is rooted in the implications and injustices of the feudal system of the time in Durham- villeins, cottars, and freemen; the Reeve elected by the hallmote juries; the Sacrist's demense administered by his Bailiff. All of which the story succeeds in conveying naturally and mainly by context rather than didactically - although given the priviliged nature of those listening, Mother Naked does have to remind them of some things.
The Parables of the Tares (Matthew 13:24–43) plays a key role, both metaphorically and literally i terms of the plant Lolium temulentum, aka darnel, which is often identified as the wheat-like weed to which Jesus referred.
The novel's narrative style has us hearing only the words, and songs, that Mother Naked delivers to the banquet. This is not a soliloquy or a speech delivered to silent listeners - it's direct and at times personal and there are clearly heckles, interruptions and strong reactions but we get only Mother Naked's counterreaction. It reminded me of how this was also done in the brilliant International Booker winning A Horse Walks into a Bar.
A fascinating and entertaining novel. It will be interested to see if the Orwell Prize picks this up next year, and it's narrative style may tip in into Goldsmiths' contention. I'd also be delighted if the press entered it into the Republic of Consciousness Prize.
The judges' citation
Set in the fifth century and narrated by an irrepressible bard called Mother Naked, this novel is bawdy, funny and tragic. The voice of Mother Naked is entirely authentic. Both an entertaining read and a serious work of historical fiction.
The publisher
Peninsula Press is an independent publisher of boundary-pushing fiction and essays formed by three booksellers in 2017 including Burley Fisher's Sam Fisher. Their initial call for submissions asked for "fiction that challenges norms (formal, aesthetic, heteropatriarchal, &c). Fiction that is literary because it pays attention to language, not because it is only about the nuclear family. We are interested in perspectives that have been traditionally consigned to genre" and their works include the brilliant Goldsmiths Prize winning Sterling Karat Gold, and the UK editions of Grimmish and Still Life. They have been longlisted 3 times, and shortlisted twice, for the Republic of Consciousness Prize
April 12, 2025
Excellent. One of those books where its brilliance slowly reveals itself.
December 15, 2024
It’s 1434 in Durham, and a minstrel with the unusual name of ‘Mother Naked’ is performing for an audience of wealthy, powerful men. With many digressions, he tells the story of a murderous ghost – the Fell Wraith – and, in doing so, reveals a personal connection to the tale. It’s tricksy and clever, and despite a very different setting, has similar political undercurrents to Brown’s previous novel Ironopolis. It’s a great way to tell a timely story that doesn’t feel overly didactic. However, I have to admit the use of pseudo-Middle English meant this was quite slow going for me. I feel a bit guilty hoping that Brown writes another contemporary novel next... this was good; it’s just that Ironopolis was truly incredible!
February 14, 2026
What do you mean there’s only 508 reviews of this book? It baffles me. I’m sure it’ll be one of my best of 2026 and I’ve only heard one person mention it so far, in Ben Reads Good's 2025 wrap-up. It was also his favourite book of the year.
Brown’s idea for this story came from a tiny historical oddity: a 1433-1434 ledger which recorded all payments of the Durham Priory, included one single entry to a minstrel called “Mother Naked”. It was the lowest payment ever registered for such services in over 200 years of record. This book is the fictional account of that single night of entertainment.
The expression “spinning a good yarn” perfectly applies to Mother Naked - the writing, the pace, the mystery, the mood. It's told in a monologue as Mother Naked addresses the room with the tale of the monster that brought down a nearby village. As the night goes on, a dangerous undercurrent becomes evident in the tale. Medieval England comes alive, as well as the plight of its peasants - it’s funny, it’s dark, but more than that, it’s clever in the best possible way.
Mother Naked is really my favourite type of book: written in a creative way that trusts its readers to understand more than what is spelled out. This makes for a very gratifying reading experience. It’s also a deceivingly deep book with a powerful social message that doesn’t feel like it was shoved down your throat. And look at that cover!! It's even more fluorescent on paper and I love it!
Brown’s idea for this story came from a tiny historical oddity: a 1433-1434 ledger which recorded all payments of the Durham Priory, included one single entry to a minstrel called “Mother Naked”. It was the lowest payment ever registered for such services in over 200 years of record. This book is the fictional account of that single night of entertainment.
The expression “spinning a good yarn” perfectly applies to Mother Naked - the writing, the pace, the mystery, the mood. It's told in a monologue as Mother Naked addresses the room with the tale of the monster that brought down a nearby village. As the night goes on, a dangerous undercurrent becomes evident in the tale. Medieval England comes alive, as well as the plight of its peasants - it’s funny, it’s dark, but more than that, it’s clever in the best possible way.
Mother Naked is really my favourite type of book: written in a creative way that trusts its readers to understand more than what is spelled out. This makes for a very gratifying reading experience. It’s also a deceivingly deep book with a powerful social message that doesn’t feel like it was shoved down your throat. And look at that cover!! It's even more fluorescent on paper and I love it!
September 18, 2024
A bravura performance by Mother Naked and Glen James Brown and the best history lesson I can imagine. Although it is essentially a monologue, it paints a vivid picture with a large cast of characters, so don't fear that it will feel tedious or claustrophobic. This Mother Naked was paid a pittance, but it wasn't for lack of talent! I don't want to say anything specific about the story or characters - going into it as innocent as possible will make it even better. I would love to see this as a movie - what a great challenge it would be!
March 1, 2026
Wow wow wow!!!
Franchement très très bien !
Franchement très très bien !
September 9, 2024
I loved this book. Mother Naked, a traveling minstrel or gleeman, has arrived in Durham to entertain the city’s leaders on the feast of St Godric in 1434. He promises them the story of the Legend of the Fell Wraith, a ghastly ghost who ravaged a nearby village 40 years prior.
The tales Mother Naked tells to the gathered men is apologetically political, but the message to readers is unapologetically political: the wealthy continue to exploit the poor and feel entitled to do so.
Although the injustices and humiliations endured by the 14th century villeins, who were bound to a lord and his land in exchange for the use of small plots for their sustenance, were infuriating, the stories Mother Naked weaves of his own long life and the mysteries unraveled make for a great read, one the reader will enjoy far more than the men of Durham. Highly recommended!
The tales Mother Naked tells to the gathered men is apologetically political, but the message to readers is unapologetically political: the wealthy continue to exploit the poor and feel entitled to do so.
Although the injustices and humiliations endured by the 14th century villeins, who were bound to a lord and his land in exchange for the use of small plots for their sustenance, were infuriating, the stories Mother Naked weaves of his own long life and the mysteries unraveled make for a great read, one the reader will enjoy far more than the men of Durham. Highly recommended!
October 22, 2025
BRILLANT. Magnifiquement sombre. Traduction plus qu'impeccable, elle est incroyable et restitue à merveille l'ambiance et l'atmosphère de l'époque ! A lire absolument plutôt que les blockbusters de la rentrée littéraire qui n'ont pas besoin des libraires pour se vendre. Il vaut mieux soutenir les petites maisons. Ce livre en est l'exemple.
September 22, 2024
Sad, sharp, & riveting with tinges of The Count of Monte Cristo.
Revenge is a dish best served cold.
Revenge is a dish best served cold.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2024
medieval court jester goes on revenge rampage? IT'S LIKE THIS WAS MADE JUST FOR ME, AS THE PERFECT AUDIENCE. i fucking LOVED THIS i cannot stop talking about it
November 19, 2025
4,5 ! j'ai vraiment hésité avec 5...
January 14, 2026
4.5*
Mother Naked is a fascinating book. Despite starting slowly, the payoff is so worth it. Genre-wise, it feels like folk horror, but the horror lies not in olungodly beasts and creatures but in the human heart, exploitation, and class oppression.
The whole time, I wondered what would have changed had their been more solidarity among the villagers instead of the feuding and solitary struggling going on. It was the time of the Peasant Uprising, but these villeins chose their own interests and vengeance over the common good, which led to their demise.
However, this book still mostly criticises the system more than the individual. Particularly, the church takes centre stage as the institution most severely judged. Until now, I never quite realised how deep their abuse of the common people went. Keeping them ignorant of the bible, squeezing them to their last penny and threatening them every other second with hell and Godly wrath. The fearful obligation with which the people were following their priests every word.
Living in capitalism, one sometimes forgets the societal systems preceeding ti were different but not necessarily better. Still, it was sad seeing the people of Sergeston rejoice in the end over the introduction of something like capitalism. They think that this is so much better than what came before.
Mother Naked is a tale of men-made monsters. A tale betimes almost too dark and painful for me. But also one that constantly impressed me. I loved the twists and revelations we got, masterfully foreshadowed and yet shocking every time. The ending filled me with vengeful glee and catharsis. Although, I am wondering, where is Mother Naked now? What happened to him? How did he live on? How did he eventually die? A truly great character of a truly great book.
Mother Naked is a fascinating book. Despite starting slowly, the payoff is so worth it. Genre-wise, it feels like folk horror, but the horror lies not in olungodly beasts and creatures but in the human heart, exploitation, and class oppression.
The whole time, I wondered what would have changed had their been more solidarity among the villagers instead of the feuding and solitary struggling going on. It was the time of the Peasant Uprising, but these villeins chose their own interests and vengeance over the common good, which led to their demise.
However, this book still mostly criticises the system more than the individual. Particularly, the church takes centre stage as the institution most severely judged. Until now, I never quite realised how deep their abuse of the common people went. Keeping them ignorant of the bible, squeezing them to their last penny and threatening them every other second with hell and Godly wrath. The fearful obligation with which the people were following their priests every word.
Living in capitalism, one sometimes forgets the societal systems preceeding ti were different but not necessarily better. Still, it was sad seeing the people of Sergeston rejoice in the end over the introduction of something like capitalism. They think that this is so much better than what came before.
Mother Naked is a tale of men-made monsters. A tale betimes almost too dark and painful for me. But also one that constantly impressed me. I loved the twists and revelations we got, masterfully foreshadowed and yet shocking every time. The ending filled me with vengeful glee and catharsis. Although, I am wondering, where is Mother Naked now? What happened to him? How did he live on? How did he eventually die? A truly great character of a truly great book.
November 9, 2025
ÇA j’ai pas pris le temps d’en parler mais c’était TROP bien !!! c l’histoire d’un ménestrel en Angleterre au début du XVe, un peu inconnu au bataillon, qui s’incruste dans le banquet des nobles et du sacristain de la grande ville du coin.. il leur impose un peu son récit, celui d’un village de la région, tout en rétablissant la vérité sur ce qu’il s’est passé là-bas, et n’omet surtout pas de rappeler à certains les actes et les décisions qui ont été prises par leurs soins et qui ont mené à cette tragédie.. c’est PIQUANT, IRONIQUE à souhait, ça parle de lutte sociale et de conditions de vie et de travail déplorables, toute sa logorrhée est absolument délicieuse j’ai adoré !!!!!!
February 16, 2026
Un super livre sans hésitation, il était vraiment excellent. Il restitue à merveille l’ambiance et l’atmosphère de l’époque.
Read
April 10, 2026despite an enticing blurb, found this a real slog/about as subtle as a brick
October 10, 2025
Après le coup de cœur pour Ironopolis, Glen James Brown m'embarque à nouveau dans son dernier roman qui allie une forme inventive à un récit percutant.
Mother Naked est un ménestrel, qui remplace au pied levé son éminent confrère Melchior Blanchflower pour une soirée de divertissement devant les puissants et marchands de Durham. Un ménestrel qui a réellement existé et qui a été payé un groat pour sa prestation, soit la plus petite somme jamais dépensée pour un spectacle. Pourquoi ? Peut-être parce qu'il décide de raconter la légende locale du spectre de Segerston, qui permet à l'auteur de déployer ses talents de conteur dans ce long monologue de cent courts chapitres. Bien évidemment, la légende n'est pas qu'une légende, c'est l'occasion de parler de la famille Payne au cœur d'un monde paysan en colère. Entre rivalités et jalousies, Mother Naked chante un drame social où les puissants asservissent les pauvres, où les paysans se retournent les uns contre les autres, pris dans les filets de la misère et de la servilité.
On retrouve donc les thématiques sociales chères à l'auteur, une peinture réaliste et historique de la paysannerie au 15e siècle en Angleterre, avec tout ce que cela implique au quotidien. Mais on retrouve aussi son amour pour le travail d'écriture, avec un récit/monologue très théâtral qui nous plonge dans cette représentation d'un soir, ainsi que son penchant pour le réalisme magique et l'importance du folklore dans le quotidien d'une classe socio-économique. Les légendes font partie du tissu social et permettent de dévoiler ce qui se joue véritablement entre les membres de cette société. Bref, c'est un chef-d'œuvre et j'ai hâte de lire le prochain roman de l'auteur !
Mother Naked est un ménestrel, qui remplace au pied levé son éminent confrère Melchior Blanchflower pour une soirée de divertissement devant les puissants et marchands de Durham. Un ménestrel qui a réellement existé et qui a été payé un groat pour sa prestation, soit la plus petite somme jamais dépensée pour un spectacle. Pourquoi ? Peut-être parce qu'il décide de raconter la légende locale du spectre de Segerston, qui permet à l'auteur de déployer ses talents de conteur dans ce long monologue de cent courts chapitres. Bien évidemment, la légende n'est pas qu'une légende, c'est l'occasion de parler de la famille Payne au cœur d'un monde paysan en colère. Entre rivalités et jalousies, Mother Naked chante un drame social où les puissants asservissent les pauvres, où les paysans se retournent les uns contre les autres, pris dans les filets de la misère et de la servilité.
On retrouve donc les thématiques sociales chères à l'auteur, une peinture réaliste et historique de la paysannerie au 15e siècle en Angleterre, avec tout ce que cela implique au quotidien. Mais on retrouve aussi son amour pour le travail d'écriture, avec un récit/monologue très théâtral qui nous plonge dans cette représentation d'un soir, ainsi que son penchant pour le réalisme magique et l'importance du folklore dans le quotidien d'une classe socio-économique. Les légendes font partie du tissu social et permettent de dévoiler ce qui se joue véritablement entre les membres de cette société. Bref, c'est un chef-d'œuvre et j'ai hâte de lire le prochain roman de l'auteur !
March 11, 2025
Teesside author Glen James Brown is one of our upcoming North of England writers, inevitably compared to Benjamin Myers with this novel and its historic links to Durham Cathedral.
Modyr Nakett (Mother Naked in old English) was recorded as being a wandering minstrel who was paid one groat, or four pence, in the cathedral's bursar accounts from 1433-34. He is the inspiration for this piece of historical and yet speculative fiction. Written in the medieval idiom this is a tale of class tensions, not short on violence.
The aging minstrel, the titular Mother Naked who narrates throughout, arrives at the cathedral to entertain the city’s most powerful men. He has come to tell the story of the Legend of the Fell Wraith, about a gruesome ‘walking ghost’ some say slaughtered all of the nearby village of Segerston forty years earlier. But is this a myth, or do the murders he speaks of have roots in real events.
It doesn’t quite live up to its explosive first quarter, though it is throughly entertaining and validates Brown’s place as one of the country’s up and coming young writers.
Interestingly for fellow Cumbrians, the minstrel speaks of his wandering further west, in Westmoreland, and to the Appleby Fair.
Modyr Nakett (Mother Naked in old English) was recorded as being a wandering minstrel who was paid one groat, or four pence, in the cathedral's bursar accounts from 1433-34. He is the inspiration for this piece of historical and yet speculative fiction. Written in the medieval idiom this is a tale of class tensions, not short on violence.
The aging minstrel, the titular Mother Naked who narrates throughout, arrives at the cathedral to entertain the city’s most powerful men. He has come to tell the story of the Legend of the Fell Wraith, about a gruesome ‘walking ghost’ some say slaughtered all of the nearby village of Segerston forty years earlier. But is this a myth, or do the murders he speaks of have roots in real events.
It doesn’t quite live up to its explosive first quarter, though it is throughly entertaining and validates Brown’s place as one of the country’s up and coming young writers.
Interestingly for fellow Cumbrians, the minstrel speaks of his wandering further west, in Westmoreland, and to the Appleby Fair.
January 16, 2026
In winter, I often want to read something about the Middle Ages. The cold and darkness somehow set my mind on the Dark Ages.
Thanks to the cover that caught my eye, I chose this book while crawling through some lists on this website.
And am I ever so glad I did. This book is purely brilliant.
It is brilliantly written, if you are not afraid of your "aulde"s and your "thyne"s.
It is brilliantly structured. The story just weaves and doesn't let you go. I did forsee the ending, but my satisfaction at it was still great and warm.
It's brilliantly charged with emotions. Oh my god, I don't remember the last time I felt such rage and such pity while reading! Or when I discussed the book I read with so many people, wanting just to vent my emotions.
It is indeed a powerful manifesto of the working classes, but it is not cheesy, or loud, or false. It is moving and truthful.
And if you ever need a reason to hate church as an institution, look no farther. You will simply despise it without ever hearing a bad word said against it in the book.
Brilliant!
Thanks to the cover that caught my eye, I chose this book while crawling through some lists on this website.
And am I ever so glad I did. This book is purely brilliant.
It is brilliantly written, if you are not afraid of your "aulde"s and your "thyne"s.
It is brilliantly structured. The story just weaves and doesn't let you go. I did forsee the ending, but my satisfaction at it was still great and warm.
It's brilliantly charged with emotions. Oh my god, I don't remember the last time I felt such rage and such pity while reading! Or when I discussed the book I read with so many people, wanting just to vent my emotions.
It is indeed a powerful manifesto of the working classes, but it is not cheesy, or loud, or false. It is moving and truthful.
And if you ever need a reason to hate church as an institution, look no farther. You will simply despise it without ever hearing a bad word said against it in the book.
Brilliant!
April 5, 2026
The 1433-1434 ledger of the Bursar of Durham Priory recorded all payments into and out of the cathedral, including money spent on entertainment. Among the many performers that year, there was a single reference to one called Modyr Nakett: Mother Naked.
Mother Naked received one groat (four pence) for their act. This was the lowest payment to any performer in over two hundred years of surviving records.
Mother Naked is the fictional account of that true performance. If that’s not a compelling premise for a novel I don’t know what is. What’s more, the novel that follows absolutely lives up to it. A refreshingly easy 5/5.
The entire novel is the performance by the entertainer/“gleeman” Mother Naked for the mercers (textile merchants) and clergy gathered in Durham cathedral that evening in 1434. One big monologue; any other speaker is only implied. What could have been a pretty one-dimensional 225-page speech instead paints a dynamic scene in 100 snappy chapters, with creative uses of breaks and negative space where Mother pauses for effect or listens and responds to members of the audience. This alone is an impressive feat of grabbing and keeping the reader’s attention. But even more credit should be given for Brown’s use of period-appropriate language. As someone who is not familiar with Olde Englyshe, the uncanny spellings and funny turns of phrase were a bit of a novelty at first. But by the end of the book, I had come to appreciate these features of the writing. It’s not overdone, but the frequent y’s instead of i’s and e’s where they shouldn’t be helped make this a very believable and immersive narrative experience. It left me with a strong desire to add some of these phrases—“base churl”, “something fukkit slippery goes on”, and many more—to my daily vocabulary. I can only guess at how much research, work, and skill Brown put into getting the language for this book right, but the result is superb.
Then there is the plot, which fits the premise brilliantly. Mother’s performance is nominally another account of the Fell Wraith, a ghostly demon who, over three decades earlier, wreaked havoc on the village of Segerston (now Sacriston), a few miles north of Durham City. As the account develops, it becomes clear that Mother has a very personal connection to this tragedy, as do some of the audience members. A ghost story that begins as a whodunnit takes on traits of an adventure tale, a tragicomedy, even elements of horror, before resolving in a satisfying revenge story. Along the way, Mother indulges in several tangents, but I was pleased to find out that most of these were relevant to the main narrative, and Mother never leaves us hanging for too long.
Before reading this I was told Glen James Brown’s previous novel Ironopolis explored working class politics in a former Yorkshire industrial city. I don’t think this piece of information was necessary to recognise how central class struggle is to Mother Naked. Mother wastes no time in bringing the injustices of serfdom to the fore, often contrasting these with the wealth and comfort of his audience (and usually implicating them directly in the violence done on the servile class). Although it is not mentioned as explicitly in the book as I would have imagined, the narrative is in a way a continuation of the Peasant’s Revolt of 1381. In this, the choice to focus on one village, one family, even one gleeman’s life story works really well. Brown also does a wonderful job of showing how social and religious order are interwoven in Plantagenet England. The church and the clergy play a key role in the story, from supplying key locations (e.g. Durham cathedral) and characters, to shaping the inner struggles of the protagonist, down to the fee Mother receives for his performance (another satisfying detail). For a class struggle novel, Brown manages to strike a perfect balance between laying it on thick and offering a subtle and believable tale. Satirical, sarcastic, but also smart.
The attentive reader will enjoy speculating how the story will develop, and Mother gives us plenty of hints to chew on, from his insistence on drinking wine to cryptic song lyrics sprinkled throughout. Admittedly, the narrative is slightly predictable, but still extremely satisfying (G.R.R. Martin would be proud). Some references to medical and political theory at the time (enter Hippocrates and the body politic) I could have done without, as they felt a bit like the author was too keen on showing the reader his notes. But in general the tone was just right, even evolving as the performance goes on in—yet again—a satisfying way.
Finally, as someone who spent three years living in Durham, I loved the little geographical details dotted throughout the book. Knowing what places like Market Square and Silver Street look like today makes Mother’s trials and tribulations feel even more vivid. Great recommendation, Eva.
Did Not Finish
July 30, 2025I have seen from the first dozen pages how the story of the fell wraith is going to slowly unravel into a story of those with power causing harm and destruction to their neighbors due to greed. I feel like I am going to be waiting for the book to catch up to itself if I continue to read. Unfortunately, despite enjoying the writing and the premise, I don’t think this book is for me. Seeing as it is told from the mouth of a storyteller to a gathering of people, there are not really characters to connect with because the happenings are slowly being detailed, anecdote by anecdote, with a distance from the emotion and people.
December 17, 2025
J’ai adoré ! Un roman plutôt original, où l’on suit le récit d’un ménestrel, découvrant au fur et à mesure comment son histoire résonne avec son auditoire et s’entre mêle au réel… on est porté du début à la fin !
September 24, 2025
Une pépite
C’est rythmé, musical, poétique, entraînant !
Une réflexion sociologique transposable à notre époque avec une monté en tension qui se tient tout au long du roman.
C’est rythmé, musical, poétique, entraînant !
Une réflexion sociologique transposable à notre époque avec une monté en tension qui se tient tout au long du roman.
October 14, 2025
Mother Naked président?
September 27, 2025
4.5
L’histoire est prenante, on lit d’une traite !
Beau travail de traduction !
L’histoire est prenante, on lit d’une traite !
Beau travail de traduction !
April 17, 2026
Core blimey, bloody spectacular. What a book to read on your last day on holiday. Such a neatly contained adventure
August 28, 2024
Surprised how much enjoyed this one (margate bookclub read!)
June 10, 2024
Honestly this was better than I expected! The story was engaging and really made me think - unsure about the historical accuracy (because I know nothing about this time in England) but really an interesting read!
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