Mrs Cook: The Real and Imagined Life of the Captain's Wife

by Marele Day

Fact and fiction are seamlessly woven together in this portrayal of Elizabeth Cook, wife of the great navigator James Cook. Meticulously researched and deftly written, this novel tells the story of a wife left behind for many long years as her husband circumnavigated the globe. From her home in London, Elizabeth Cook travels with her famous husband in her thoughts, imagining the exotic new people and places Captain Cook was discovering. Described, too, is the tragedy in her life that unfolded as she outlived each of her six children. This is a rich portrayal of the life of a woman whose passion and intellect matched that of her celebrated husband. It is a lyrical exploration of imagined interior worlds shaped by historical fact. It is, above all, a celebration of love and endurance.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Book Club

372 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2003

About the author

Day was born in Sydney, and grew up in Pagewood, an industrial suburb. She attended Sydney Girls High School and Sydney Teachers' College and in 1973 obtained a degree from Sydney University. She has worked as a patent searcher and as a researcher and has also taught in elementary school during the 1980s.

Her Claudia Valentine series features a feminist Sydney-based private investigator but her breakthrough novel was Lambs of God which was a departure from the crime genre and features two nuns battling to save the island on which they live from developers; it became a bestseller.

She lives on the New South Wales North coast.

Marele Day's four book Claudia Valentine series has become a minor classic in Australian crime writing, but her Lambs of God (1998) was even more highly acclaimed as an original and provocative literary work, published in the US by Riverhead and in the UK by Sceptre. Her most recent novel was Mrs Cook, a rich portrayal of the life of a woman whose passion and intellect matched that of her celebrated husband.

Reviews

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs Cook: the Real and Imagined Life of the Captain’s Wife is the eighth novel by Australian author, Marele Day. Day takes existing Cook artefacts: letters, medallions, monuments, furniture, crockery, portraits and more, and builds a backstory for them, using her meticulous research into the life of Mrs Cook. A wealth of facts presented in an interesting and easily digestible form. We learn about things like the change of calendar in 1752, life in 18th century London, docks, ale houses, war, country fairs, charting coastlines, estimating longitude, and preparation for long sea voyages. Above all, we learn of the deep love the Cooks had for each other, and the heartache that Elizabeth Cook endured as her husband was gone for sometimes years without word. This novel is quite a departure from Day’s usual style, and is reminiscent of Geraldine Brooks’ technique of taking a few historical facts and embroidering them with a story. Two passages stood out or me: “Elizabeth had two husbands – the one who spent months at a time with her, with whom she had come to Yorkshire; and the imagined husband, the one who was by her side when the one in the next room was away. The one who was there every breath she took, who inhabited her body as much as she did herself. The husband made of air, and memories and yearning, who nestled into the bed beside her at night.” From this passage comes the title. And “What decision would Elizabeth have made if the Almighty had revealed His plan for her? I will send you a great man and you will love each other profoundly. But he will die, and so will all of your children. Your well of grief will be so immense you’ll think you can’t bear it, but you will survive, living out the missing years of your loved ones’ lives.” An interesting and excellent read.

[Betty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave up on this one- life is too short to read boring books. This reads like a rather didactic feature article, informing the readers of what it was like to be living in the times of Captain James Cook and his wife Elizabeth. Lots of information, but very little crafting of a novel, and quite a disappointment as I enjoyed reading her other novel Lambs of God.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe it's a good sign when you can't really tell what's fiction and what really happened. It would be nice if the author shared her resources, but she doesn't. However, from what I know of Captain Cook it's clear she did her research. I was hoping for a little more emotion and drama, a little more "imagined life," and less history. At the same time, there is a pretty good balance between the happenings of Mrs. Cook's life and the captain's. What she does share of Mrs. Cook's possible personal feelings and thoughts is very readable.

Other reviewers have said this book is boring. It is a little dry at times, but it is bearable for someone who is truly interested in the Cook's lives. Elizabeth Cook clearly spent much of her life waiting. That's sad. It seems she lived in the shadows and could have done more with her own life. It's tragic that all her children died before they had children of their own. What loneliness despite the company of servants and friends.

I may not have persisted with this book, but I purchased it since my local library doesn't own a copy. I like other books by this author. This one doesn't really represent her voice or style that I really like in her more fictional works.

[Kathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very disappointing book...pedantic descriptions of supposed events in Mrs Cooks life as she waits for Captain Cooks return from voyages. The dialogue and character interplay is monotonous and uninteresting.
Gave up a little over half way.

[Jodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really nice book. Well written and has a quiet, thoughtful pace. I always enjoy novels written around an historical event but this is different because it is based on real people. Elizabeth Cook is really brought to life and the heartache she endured is felt without the book being depressing. Thoroughly enjoyed.

[Lyn Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading the real and imagined story of Mrs Cook who led an amazing but sad and tragic life as the wife of Captain James Cook. The author has gone to great lengths to research not only the day to day events of the Cook family but also the love and despair they encountered. The last chapter “Where are they now “, was very interesting

[Helen O'Sh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagined life of Mrs Captain Cook at home in London.

I generally enjoyed this book. It was easy to read and I liked learning more about their lives and the times. Unfortunately there were parts that read like a Mills & Boon novel and really lowered the tone - and my enjoyment.

[Faye Maclennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read, really gives you some idea of what the Real and Imagined Life would have been.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely little book. The last lines of the second to the last chapter really spoke to me. As painful as life can be, in the end, I think most of us will reflect and revisit its joys again and again.

[Marion Aranjo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Author's style is very dull.

[Belinda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just not that good.

[Debi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was beautiful, historically informative but oh so sad.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reminder that behind every successful man sits a wife/partner.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Although I knew the history of Captian Cook and a brief outline of the history of Mrs. Cook it was interesting to have the facts woven into an engaging narrative.

I really engaged with the portrail of Mrs. Cook and even found myself getting a bit weepy when the novel covered the pain and loss she felt as each member of her family died.

Mrs. Cook is a woman who I would not have thought of as being a strong femail example but having read her history in such a clear and endearing story she is now up there on my list of most admired women.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't really enjoy this book. While I felt like crying at times at the tragedies in Elizabeth's life, I feel I didn't get a real sense of either James or Elizabeth. The book is obviously very well researched in terms of time and place, but the characters, despite once being real, seemed either one-dimensional or a little cliched.

[Rachel Froude]

Although a work of fiction it was a fascinating insight into life at the time. The author depicted in amazing detail the intricracies of life in London, travel by coach, daily struggles and harshness surrounding all that. This poor woman lost all her 6 children and mostly on her own as James was sailing the high sea.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book full of interesting detail about the times and the life and possible thoughts of Mrs. Elizabeth Cook, wife of the captain. It's a great read and I highly recommend it.

[Hollie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible. Didn't tell about the history of the era, women, etc. only told about Mrs. Cook missing him all the time. Boring.

[Leigh Head · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Very interesting look at historical events.

[Magpie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anne 2015

[Laurelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!