The Four Marys: A Quartet of Contemporary Folk Tales

‘A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in the world.’ So said Agatha Christie, ambiguously; for the bond between mother and child is deep, but sometimes, motherhood does not come naturally. This is hinted at in references to the Four Marys ballad by Virginia Woolf and Joan Baez, both of whom feature here. Obsession, longing, deceit and even murder feature in this quartet of provocative novellas, which gives a modern twist to tales of women for whom all is not necessar- ily as it seems or as each woman would want her life to be. Drawing on universal themes of womanhood and on history, culture and lore, ‘The Four Marys’ is a riveting exploration of the complexities of motherhood: edgy and engrossing, moving, yet at times, disturbing.

Reviews of The Four Marys: A Quartet of Contemporary Folk Tales

"Powerful stories about the lives and deaths of women" – Marina Warner. "In sinuous prose the past shimmers to life through the present. The Four Marys is a tremendous achievement." – Zoe Wicomb. "Rafferty shows all the vivid hues … gutsy and red-blooded … the titular fourth tale is superb" – Alan Bett, The Skinny. "A strong collection of tales … Rafferty s ability to honestly represent the deep love and passion of motherhood, and also the desires of women, is a testament to her writing." – Rebecca Dark, We Love This Book.