How much work does your title do to take readers into the story?Visit Karen Brooks's website.
The title progresses readers into not only the heart of the story, but catapults them towards its conclusion. It’s indicative of the aspirations of the lead character, Anneke Sheldrake, who when the book opens, is forced, through family tragedy, to fall back on her Dutch mother’s craft of brewing ale to support her household. While women in medieval times were brewers, to make a business of it as Anneke does, a woman of good birth (hence “lady), is both unusual and dangerous – especially when she moves to the city. So, I like to think the title is evocative and the juxtaposition of “lady” and “brewer” raises questions in a reader. London, of course, gives us a place. The original title of the book (in Australia) was The Brewer’s Tale (which has a raft of meanings). The title...[read on]
My Book, The Movie: The Lady Brewer of London.
Q&A with Karen Brooks.
--Marshal Zeringue
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