As a young queer woman, the stories I connect with the most are often obscured by the dominate, straight white male perspective. It is only once this boulder is tossed aside that we can discover the thriving, interesting stories underneath.

In The Mere Wife, Headley finds a whole ecosystem under the formative tale of Beowulf by re-centring the narrative on just about everything other than Beowulf himself. Headley is a seasoned fantasy writer and we get to hear from the mountains, the lakes, the animals, the children, the women, and the monsters, as perspective shifts each chapter.

Instead of a story about a warrior who rescues a king from a monster, Headley’s version is set in a gated suburban community, ‘Herot Hall’, and follows the plight of a mother attempting to raise and protect her son. Headley weaves distinct narratives together to form what reveals itself to be a reflection, and at times a direct condemnation, of modern America.

Setting the story in a modern, familiar environment lends a realist authenticity. But at the same time, Headley knows when to let the mythology seep through. This balance is a delicate one, and it’s not perfect, but Headley manages to come through the other side with a rich, full narrative that has something to say.

The original Beowulf text had no official title. The manuscript was simply named after the protagonist to ease historical analysis. The ‘mere’ in the title of Headley’s novel refers to a lake that resides beneath the mountain of Herot Hall – rich, pure, undiluted, her story will remain hidden from those who don’t care to seek it. But for those who do, she offers solace, protection, and insight. In this sense it is the perfect title for this new interpretation of the tale.

Reviewed by Nikki Jones