Titles of books can often be deceptive, but I have never encountered one quite as dissimilar to its content than Matrix by Groff. The title raises up images of that famous sci-fi movie starring Keanu Reeves or the coding process used for computers or for bioengineering. But instead this is a novel about a woman of questionable royal birth during the 10th century who must find her way in the world.  Like I said, titles can be deceptive, but once you get past that, this novel is a tour de force, revealing the life of a woman who finds both her calling and her power despite enormous odds.

Marie de France, the bastard granddaughter to royalty, is under the care of Eleanor of Aquitaine, who finds her large size and coarse manner unsuitable for court life. So Eleanor sends the seventeen year old Marie, off to England to an impoverished abbey to be their prioress.

On arrival, Marie finds the nuns starving and dying from a pestilence. Without much guidance or experience Marie must take control and build a life for herself and for the nuns who now depend on her.  Her struggles, both spiritual and temporal are extensive as she regains control of the lands owned by the abbey, which rich landowners had encroached on, or as she guides the nuns spiritual development. What unfolds is a remarkable portrait of a woman who wants to bring meaning and purpose to her life and who finds the power to do so within herself. You cannot help but be inspired by Marie’s development as a person and her indomitable courage under challenging and desperate circumstances.

Groff, has created a memorable and compelling character in Marie and like Hilary Mantel who brought Thomas Cromwell and that period of history to light, Groff reveals the complicated lives of nuns and their role in the socioeconomic life of the 10th century through Marie’s struggles and accomplishments. Groff’s insights allow us to see how far we have come and yet how far we still have to go for women to realize their full potential.

Brenda’s Rating *****(5 Out of 5 Stars)

Recommend this book to: Keith, Sharon and Marian

Book study worthy? Yes

Read in e-library format.