“Imagine if the brothers Grimm had a modern sister. Think of Sondheim’s lyrics from Into the Woods expanded to include the stories of Alice in Wonderland and the Cheshire Cat, along with Peter Rabbit‘s wife. If you can envision all of this, you’ll be just at the beginning of preparing yourself for the darkness and humor of Marjorie Maddox’s chapbook, Wives’ Tales….”—reviewed by David J. Bauman at The Windhover

“Crying Wolf” from Wives’ Tales as read by David J. Bauman

Wives’ Tales

Buy the chapbook HERE!

Published by Seven Kitchens Press, Wives’ Tales is divided into two sections: “The Tales” focus on fractured fairy tales with a feminist slant; “The Wives” are all told from the points of view of the wives of famous men named Peter—the wife of Peter Pan, the wife of Peter Rabbit, the wife of Peter the Great, the wife of Pete Rose, the wife of Peter the Apostle, etc. Enjoy!

“…And, goodness, my absolute favorite here is “The Truth About Mother Goose.” She’s no simpering sweet Goody-about-town but an actual goose, “a fine-feathered horror / with wings that whip like a twister.” She’s big, she’s bold, she’s dangerous.

          Six foot and plump as a pillow,
          she plodded up and down our streets,
          cracking the sidewalk like a spinal cord.

She scares the hell out of me”—Kathleen Kirk at Escape Into Life

“ An absolutely delightful feminist take on traditional fairytales and nursery rhymes, Maddox's Wives' Tales offer a peak into the violent history of our classic stories while giving women the last word. You'll experience shock, horror, and laugh with joy at her alternative depictions of everything from Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater to Abelard and Heloise. A real pleasure and accessible for non-poetry readers.”-Allison Bird Treacy