‘Wet Nurse’s Tale’ a bawdy historical novel

Over the years, I’ve read books with just about every imaginable heroine there is, but never before have I run across a spunky, lively gal like Susan Rose, the main character in Erica Eisdorfer’s debut novel, “The Wet Nurse’s Tale.”

I suppose you can tell by the title that Susan is, well, she’s a wet nurse. (A wet nurse is a woman who is hired to breast-feed another woman’s child.)

Susan didn’t start out to become a wet nurse like her dear ol’ mom. She was a maid in the Great House. But after a frisky relationship with the lord of the manor’s son results in Susan becoming in the “family way,” she is forced to leave her employment.

After giving birth, Susan, who was a healthy, big girl to begin with, has milk enough for two counties, and her father urges her to hire herself out as a wet nurse in order to bring in more money. So, as was the fashion in Victorian times, a wealthy family comes looking for someone to feed their babies, and Susan soon finds herself away from her own babe and caring for a set of newborn twins in a town miles away from home.

Susan longs to be with her own child and is devastated to learn that her son has died while she's in service to others, but her father forces her to continue her job. She makes a good living, endearing herself to her employers, trusted to keep their secrets and scandals. But she never loses her hunger for a child of her own, and when she makes the acquaintance of the charming Jewish dentist Harry Abrams, a glimmer of hope for love and family flickers in Susan’s heart.

Soon another baby is born and Susan is forced out for employment, but this time she has a clever plan for her little child and herself. But the best-laid plans have a way of backfiring. and Susan’s secret may do more harm than good if she isn’t careful. But Susan’s a smart girl, and she always watches out for herself and those she loves.

Delivering a bawdy, rollicking good story with “The Wet Nurse’s Tale,” first-time author Eisdorfer will delight fans of historical novels as well as lovers of a well-told story. I love the use of Susan as the narrator of her story, and the cast of unique characters makes this a novel that is pure joy to read.