Marie de France is a literary figure about whom we know little. She wrote a book of poetry and a book of Aesop-type fables, and is considered the first known French female poet, her work dating to the late twelfth century. Another notable figure of this time is Eleanor of Aquitaine, wife of the King of France, and upon annulment due to the lack of a male heir, then became wife of the King of England, Henry II, and mother of Henry III, Richard, and John, who each served as king. She also served as regent, or ruler of England, during Richard’s Crusade to the Holy Land. This well-known formidable figure and the little known poet become the subjects of Groff’s historical fiction novel, Matrix.

Matrix describes life in the French court for the women of royal blood, and the life of a dying abbey of nuns in England, in easy detail, without feeling like a college course in Medieval life. The fictional path that Marie’s life takes is this: when a girl of royal blood is raped by soldiers, Marie is born to this family of Amazon-like females, who embark on a crusade with Eleanor of Aquitaine when Marie is still a child. Marie’s meeting with Eleanor begins her great admiration, indeed, the loving torch she carries for Eleanor nearly her entire life. This makes it all the more galling and painful when Eleanor sends her to become abbess of a failing abbey in England, far from her court. Marie is a giantess of a girl, not fat but huge and muscular, and of a wild nature, having grown up with her aunts who hunted, wrestled, and fought, learning all the arts of sword, bow and arrow, and equestrian skills. She makes an imposing figure, as she rides to the abbey on her war horse, the only creature that can comfortably handle her bulk.

After Marie shakes off the rejection, she first decides to win her way back to Eleanor’s court through authoring a book of poetry. When this fails, she decides to make the abbey flourish, to perhaps lure Eleanor to living her retirement years there. Through considerable force of personality and wiles, Marie succeeds at making the abbey enormously prosperous. This puts a target on it, since the Church and state will want to draw on their wealth through tithe and tax. It also puts her nuns at risk for male attack. Marie claims to have visions of the Blessed Mother that direct her to create an enormous labyrinth, a circuitous path with a hidden tunnel that would make the abbey impenetrable.

This novel is thematically rich, and would create good conversation for book discussions. Are Marie’s heretical visions real, or are they excuses to motivate her nuns to create projects to ensure their separation from men? While there is historical evidence of erotic female relationships in abbeys, is it likely that the degree of sexual contact would be as common as described here? Nest, the nun charged with running the infirmary, “releases the humors” for those nuns who seek such relief, a practice that is excused as medicinal. However, when Beatrix arrives, her special relationship with Nest leads to the quiet end of that practice. The Rule of St. Benedict forbids exclusive relationships between members of a community, as equal relationships with all members is required. The nature of love is elevated above that of the corporal, a brotherly or sisterly love.

The role of men in the life of women is also indirectly explored. This patriarchal society is depicted as feeding off the success and hard work of women, exploiting them for sex, offspring, food, and the necessities of life. Marie creates her island of women safe from men, taking in more women who have suffered through their relationship with men in one form or another, or failing to live up to the male expectations of beauty or fruitfulness. Women in this story who seek male contact are ruined as a result. This, as well as other themes, would make for good discussion.

Groff writes beautifully, has researched her subject well, although I don’t agree with all her extrapolations. Nonetheless, this is a worthwhile choice for book clubs, or your own reading enjoyment. Highly recommended.