The Queen's Wife

by Joanne Drayton

A memoir of a turbulent time — and a chess game that broke all the rules.


In 1989, two married women met by chance. They instantly hit it off, but little did they know that their new relationship would turn their lives upside-down.

This is the true story of that relationship, which threatened to cost them their children, families and friends and forced them to reassess their sexuality, identity and heritage. Along the way, one — an acclaimed biographer — was to explore the power of objects, while the other — a painter — was to follow her whakapapa back to the first Maori king, Te Wherowhero.

Against the odds, the couple’s new life together became rich in laughter, travel, unusual encounters, investigations into Viking raids, the Kingitanga movement, the death of a New Zealand artist, chicken claws, ghosts, eccentrics and much more. A fascinating read on so many levels, this is an important view of our country from its very edge.

Genres: Queer, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography

Kindle Edition

Published January 31, 2023

Reviews

[Briar Lomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading, but not rushing to recommend

[Chelsea Berry]

52 Book Club 2024, Prompt 18: A Book with an apostrophe in its title.

I'm not going to officially rate this, as I have been reading while recovering from surgery, and may have enjoyed it more if I read it with less drugs and pain on board!

As is, I give it 3 stars.

I bought this book because I liked the cover. I didn't even realise it wad a memoir until I started reading. I had no prior knowledge of Joanne Drayton, not being much into art history, but I don't think that affected my reading of the book much.

This book was about 3 different subjects that the author wove together as a picture of her family's ancestry and sense of belonging - but in my humble opinion, it was too much for one book. I'd love to read a full fact-based novel on the Chess Set, I would also have liked to know more about Sue's ancestors and their way of life.

The stories from the author's own life were interesting, emotional and at times funny. An interesting glimpse into her family's journey.

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just the book for the day before *the* Coronation! A beautifully woven memoir of an ongoing relationship between two artists (one of them the book's writer), their children and their respective histories, as well as the fabled Lewis chess pieces. Had never heard of visual artist Sue Murray and from her work reproduced in the book wish I'd been following it before now! And if you've never head of the Lewis chess pieces, now's your chance! https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-col...

[ND]

I really wanted to like this book, and I found parts of it fascinating, but it ultimately didn't quite hold together for me, despite being queer, despite having huge compassion for Drayton and her partner and what they went through with their kids and the custody battles. I also want to learn more about medieval carving and Maori traditions, but got a bit bogged down in the details of those threads. She's a good writer, but perhaps it is easier for her to write about art history than about her own life. Dunno.

[Caroline Barron · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and unique memoir of love against the odds. Not only that, it is a collage of the women's intellectual and spiritual pursuits — art, objects, whakapapa. Joanne Drayton is an excellent historian and biographer (The Search for Anne Perry is one of my all-time favs), and now she can add 'memoirist' to her many skills. A really great book.

[Helen Cummings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir on Joanne’s life and the intertwining threads of her parter’s whakapapa and the tale of the Lewis chess pieces. I had also just finished reading Downfall which chronicled the story of the scandal surrounding the Whanganui mayor which coincidentally is also referred to in this book.

[Kelly Bint · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was reminiscent of how I felt reading Deborah Levy. Insightful, relatable, poignant… highly recommended

[Reah Somerville · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing and wonderful life lived. Joanne has visited so many of the places I've been and it was a privilege to read about a life of strength, love and authenticity.

[Otto · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Queen's Wife by Joanne Drayton is a memoir of a lesbian couple and their four children from previous marriages in New Zealand. It is lengthy and detailed, a documentary of queer lives down south when acceptance was rarer. It tells of the challenges they faced in the 80s, which included legal battles for custody, housing discrimination, and struggles with belonging.