Podcast Summary:

New Books Network
Host: C.P. Leslie
Guest: Maren Halvorsen
Book: The Bailiff’s Wife (Cuidono Press, 2025)
Date: November 12, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features a conversation between host C.P. Leslie and author Maren Halvorsen about Halvorsen’s debut novel, The Bailiff’s Wife. The discussion explores the novel’s inspiration in a real 17th-century English murder case, the process of translating historical sources into fiction, the experiences of women in early modern England, the complexity of village life, and the influence of the period’s religious and political upheavals on both personal and collective lives. Halvorsen also delves into her characters, the use of Quaker history, and her writing journey from historian to novelist.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Maren Halvorsen’s Path to Writing Historical Fiction

• Background: Halvorsen grew up creative among two artist sisters, gravitating toward writing to carve out her unique space ([03:05]).
  • Quote: "I became the writer in the family from a very early age..." – Maren Halvorsen ([03:05])
• Transition to History: Initially focused on history as a career, finding the field’s emphasis on primary sources compelling, and later taught medieval and early modern history at college level.
• Turning Back to Writing: Halvorsen experienced a turning point 10–20 years ago, realizing a desire to return to fiction and committing herself fully ([03:05-07:10]).

2. The Real-Life Inspiration for The Bailiff’s Wife

• Origins: Based on a broadsheet from Hereford, England, 1688, detailing the case of a woman’s search for her missing husband—though the account's accuracy is uncertain ([07:23]).
  • Quote: "Even if the story wasn’t completely true, I was interested in what it said about the 17th century." – Maren Halvorsen ([07:23])
• Discovery: Halvorsen came across the story while working on her dissertation; her sister actually spotted it in the archives.
• Historical & Literary Blend: The real broadsheet included more subplots than the novel; Halvorsen adapted and condensed these for her story ([07:23–13:34]).
  • Focus was on the perseverance and agency of the widow at the center of the tale.

3. Creating Characters: Sarah Kidd & Frances Bright

• Sarah Kidd: Transforms from a “very ordinary London working class woman” into a dogged seeker of justice.
  • Quote: “She leaves behind all sense of propriety… single-mindedly demanding justice. The circumstance… transforms her… into something else altogether, sort of a force of nature.” – Maren Halvorsen ([14:19])
• Frances Bright: Inspired by Mary Pennington, a real historical Quaker figure; Frances is introspective, embodying the struggles women face regarding societal expectations and authenticity ([14:19, 28:28]).
• Dynamic: The contrast and evolving relationship between Sarah and Frances underscores shared challenges from very different starting points.

4. The Village as a Character: Chalfont St James

• Backdrop & Atmosphere: The village, based in Buckinghamshire, is characteristically insular, suspicious of outsiders, and shaped by vagrancy laws ([17:52]).
• Complicated Villainy: The narrative resists “great man” or singular villain tropes, depicting the entire village as complicit in the unfolding events.
  • Quote: “It takes a village… but sometimes… a village can have a negative connotation too in that time period.” – Maren Halvorsen ([17:52])

5. Blending Genres: Historical Novel Meets Murder Mystery

• The Bailiff’s Wife is both a murder mystery and an exploration of the human experience in its setting.
  • Leslie praises the seamless integration; Halvorsen sees the mystery structure as a tool for deeper world-building ([22:07–24:02]).
  • Quote: “The mystery is a way of… understanding that world.” – Maren Halvorsen ([22:53])

6. The Restoration’s Effects and Quaker Radicalism

• Political Upheaval: The Restoration of Charles II left England unsettled, with suspicion of radicals—including Quakers—running high ([24:21]).
• Religious Tensions: The Quaker emphasis on equality and pacifism was viewed as subversive; many (including Frances Bright) struggle with dual identities as both insiders and outsiders ([24:21–28:16]).
  • Quote: “Their message was subversive and radical… everyone is the same before God…” – Maren Halvorsen ([24:21])

7. The Research and Role of Quaker Characters

• Quaker characters and themes grew naturally from Halvorsen’s own scholarship on Quaker history ([28:28]).
  • Quote: "One of the interesting things about Quakerism is its introspection..." – Maren Halvorsen ([28:28])
• Frances Bright’s continual self-examination reflects insights Halvorsen drew from real Quaker writings.

8. Arthur Brunskill: The Outsider Vicar

• Characterization: Raised on radical Calvinism, struggling to find his place in a changing, suspicious community. Halvorsen predicts he won’t remain a vicar post-novel ([31:01–33:18]).
  • Quote: "He is really, I think, an academic, and he's not built for pastoral care." – Maren Halvorsen ([31:15])

9. Themes & Takeaways from The Bailiff’s Wife

• Human Connection: The novel is ultimately about unlikely alliances, seeking justice, and the struggles of navigating a world with differing values ([33:21]).
  • Quote: "It's a novel of human connection, really—unlikely friends, unlikely allies, people caring for each other, making mistakes, trying to correct those mistakes, being flawed, but trying to live good lives." – Maren Halvorsen ([33:21])

10. What’s Next for Halvorsen?

• Upcoming Project: A nearly finished creative biography of Margaret of Anjou, reimagined as an adventure through the Wars of the Roses ([34:30]).

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Writing and History:
  • “History became my substitute for a writing career, I guess, because it was also involved in story and world building...” – Maren Halvorsen ([03:05])
• On Adapting History into Fiction:
  • “It's always hard for me as a historian to let go of precise accuracy... I can create a story. It doesn't have to be exactly like the broadsheet.” – Maren Halvorsen ([14:19])
• On Building the Novel's Village:
  • “The village itself is a character of what's happening.” – Maren Halvorsen ([17:52])
• On Historical Villainy:
  • "In reality, villainy is very complicated, and it's not just down to one." – Maren Halvorsen ([17:52])
• On Quaker Influence:
  • "I became more interested in his [Isaac Pennington’s] wife, Mary Pennington, who wrote her own memoir about her life..." – Maren Halvorsen ([28:28])
  • "I thought that's perfect for Frances because I want her to be somebody who is really struggling with her place in the world..." ([28:28])
• On Takeaways:
  • “[The novel is] a novel of human connection, really—unlikely friends, unlikely allies...” – Maren Halvorsen ([33:21])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:05 – Halvorsen’s path from aspiring writer to historian and back
• 07:23 – Discovery of the real murder case and its adaptation
• 13:34 – The dramatization process and historical accuracy as a novelist
• 14:19 – Building the character of Sarah Kidd
• 17:52 – The atmosphere and social function of Chalfont St James
• 22:07 – The novel as a murder mystery and surprise in storytelling
• 24:21 – The impact of the Restoration and social tensions
• 28:28 – Quaker research and its role in the novel
• 31:15 – The character of Arthur Burnskill, the outsider vicar
• 33:21 – Author’s hopes for what readers take away
• 34:30 – Halvorsen’s next project: a novel about Margaret of Anjou

Overall Tone & Style

The conversation is thoughtful, engaging, and conversational, with a focus on the intersection of rigorous historical research and creative storytelling. Halvorsen comes across as a deeply knowledgeable, reflective, and empathetic writer, blending a historian’s eye for detail with a novelist’s flair for drama and character.

This episode is a must-listen for lovers of historical fiction, those interested in the lives of women in early modern England, the intersection of history and narrative, and the ongoing negotiation between fact and imagination in storytelling.