The medieval English village of Ulewic is ravaged by plague, flood, fear and superstition in equal measure. An group of women seek to help, but in doing so could bring about their own doom.
Time and Place: 1321. Ulewic, England
Summary
In 1321, a group of women have come from Flanders to set up a beguinage outside of the small town of Ulewic, England. This place is a sanctuary for women and children. The hardworking, pious beguines charitably serve the surrounding community as well. Bound by rules of celibacy and prayer, the beguinage is not a nunnary: the women are there by their own free will and can leave whenever they want.
The Church and the local lord of Ulewic have a tight hold over the village, their rule enforced by the fear of a group of cloaked and masked men known as the Owl Masters. Backed by the village’s lord, the Owl Masters seek to return the land to the old ways of pagan worship. Superstition and fear permeates every part of the villagers’ lives, culminating in their belief of the Owlman: a mythical monster, part man, part massive owl.
Plague and flooding ravage the village, but leave the beguinage on its outskirts mostly untouched. The women there help the townspeople as best they can. However, fear and mistrust have begun to seep into the society and the Church urges the beguinage’s removal.
Evaluation
Karen Maitland’s writing was detailed, livid, and often grotesque in its description. The multiple perspective device she used worked well: shifting between Servant Martha, Beatrice, Agatha, Father Ulfrid and Pisspuddle the peasant girl, the reader is given unique perspective into life in the village and in the beguinage.
What I learned from this book: life for strong, independent women was as dangerous in 1321 England as it was in 1692 Salem, Massachusetts. Nutrition and health care didn’t get much better in 350 years either.
Why I read it: This title was chosen for a discussion group, but I am interested in the topic and themes and would have read it independently. I’d never heard of these communities of women in Europe – it was fascinating to learn a bit about them.
Rating: ♦ ♦ ♦ / ♥ ♥ ♥ (rating scale here)
Discussion questions
- Did you have a hard time finding Father Ulfrid’s character completely unsympathetic?
- Discuss the church’s attitude towards the Owl Masters.
- Why do you think the author made the existence of the Owlman so uncertain? (In other words, did it exist as some of the characters described, or was it a figment?)
Genre: Historical Fiction – Medieval Great Britain
Awards: Shirley Jackson Award Nominee for Novel (2009)
Professional reviews: Publisher’s Weekly
Readalikes: The Lord of Ireland (E. M. Powell,) The Taming of the Queen (Philippa Gregory,) Bring Up the Bodies (Hilary Mantel)
Author readalikes: Ian McEwen, Jane Waters, Hilary Mantel
Bibliographic information
Title: The Owl Killers
Author: Karen Maitland (http://karenmaitland.com/)
Publication: Penguin, New York, 2009
Pages: 528
ISBN: 9780141031897
Available in: Paperback ($11.99,) Kindle eBook ($12.68)
Also available for free at your local library.
4into8 
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