Lady Macbeth: On The Couch ~ Alma Bond

While I have seen a few incarnations of "That Scottish Play" by Shakespeare I never studied it. I am, however, relatively well informed about the historical Macbeth and family. There is an important distinction here, that I probably should have paid attention to when offering to read this book at Netgalley. In my defence, I never expected my name to be selected.

This story is Alma Bond's narrative of the Lady Macbeth as is characterised by William Shakespeare. It is crucially important to remember this fact when reading the text, particularly for anyone who reads a considerable amount of historical fiction and is less enamoured by The Bard. It certainly limits the amount of nitpicking about anachronisms and the like. Whether the same is true for the Shakespearian boffins I cannot say.

Written from Lady Macbeth's perspective, the story begins when she is still in her childhood, still living with her father. I quite like this bit, it felt natural and the narrative flowed nicely and I felt I was reading a book. At this stage I forgot that I was not reading an historical fiction per se, but it was done with such confidence that it had the feel of having been a heavily researched story. Then the narrative changes a bit, and one realises that the story is now required to fit into a familiar tale. Therefore, while the parts prior to her marriage to Macbeth seem to serve the reader, the rest of the book serve the play. As a lover of historical fiction I felt the loss of connection with immediate effect.

The 'historical fiction' portion of the tale is about a woman growing up with dreams and goals, and a young lady wanting what young girls generally want, an attractive, strong husband. The 'play' portion is mostly about a young woman (though she would still be considered a teen in our world) who is whinging about her unmanly husband because he's hedging about taking monarchical matters into his own hands. I'm sure there is a psychological term for this about-face in character, and while I connected with Bond's Lady, I felt alienated from Shakespeare's. Which is unfortunate, because I was really enjoying the read. I wonder if the opposite is true of those who studied the play.

All this makes me wonder if perhaps I'm not the right audience for this book. Although, I think I am supposed to be, because had the constraints of the play not existed, I think it would have been quite a unique and sympathetic approach to explaining Lady Macbeth and might have gone a long way to understanding why she perhaps should not be so vilified. I believe that Bond's skills lie in explaining the conditions of time and place fill, as well as in creating an understanding of a young woman's motivations in such a game of kings - all things that I think Shakespeare missed. Though, in the Bard's defence - he was writing the story for a very different purpose.

I do have one point of contention that I need I cannot fail to mention. Despite understanding that this story is based on a play, but there is no reason that anyone should be wearing an ocelot anything during Macbeth's reign. Ocelots are from Central and South America - lands that were not yet 'discovered', nor was there yet any trade with them in the 11th Century. They would have; however, likely been something of high status in The Bard's time, so if he included clothing made of ocelots and Bond is following this, then I withdraw my objection.

Review originally appeared on the now defunct Paternoster Row Legacy blog.