Georgie and Peter, very much in love, move to London with their three children. Once there, Georgie's dormant acting career takes off and she wins the role of Dora Jordan in a one-woman show. Dora Jordan was the most famous comic actress of the eighteenth century (she had thirteen illegitimate children, including ten by the future king of England).
As Georgie rehearses for her part, she becomes increasingly drawn to Dora Jordan, who she sees as a working mother with struggles exactly like her own. And when Georgie can no longer fight her attraction to the playwright, she begins an affair with tragic results.
Narrated by Peter, a failed-writer-turned-businessman, My Wife's Affair is about infidelity, passion, duty, and about finally getting what you want and then wanting still more.
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"I am always intrigued when people say they reread a book...this was one that I too wish to reread and also wish I had read on my Kindle so I could have easily marked passages. Full of intrigue and surprise this is a great read that will stand up to the test of time. The emotions are ones that men and women will both relate to. My favorite line is this: "But now I was a father, and being a father made you less of a man, I could see. It left you powerless to do what you really wanted to do, because you had these children, you loved these chidren, you needed them and they needed you. I could almost bring myself to despise Georgie for making me a father as much as I did for her infidelity.""
— Amanda (5 out of 5 stars)
“Woodruff leaves not a dry eye in the house in this gripping ode to theater and the love it can command—and crush.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)A beautiful but devastating novel of infidelity, a gripping story of a woman devoted to her family but driven by her ambition." Ann Darby, author of The Orphan Game
“A beautiful but devastating novel of infidelity, a gripping story of a woman devoted to her family but driven by her ambition.”
— Ann Darby, author of The Orphan Game“Wise, moving, eloquent, and written with an economy that is deceptively simple, this is a novel illuminated by an eye as bright and penetrating as a theatre spotlight. Dazzling.”
— Beatrice Colin, author of The Glimmer Palace" I loved it! Book was very emotional and touching. I am in love with the characters! "
— Sarah, 2/4/2014" I loved it! Book was very emotional and touching. I am in love with the characters! "
— Sarah, 2/4/2014" I feel guilty giving it a 4 because of its tragic end. "
— Jolen, 2/3/2014" I feel guilty giving it a 4 because of its tragic end. "
— Jolen, 2/3/2014" The affair itself felt like the plot device that it was, and the narrative as well as the ending seemed melodramatic at times. I'm really unsure of the necessity of having Peter narrate the story when he was so rarely directly involved with what was going on. Even so, I liked Georgie and her family, I liked reading about the play, and I enjoyed the book in general. "
— Savannah, 2/1/2014" The affair itself felt like the plot device that it was, and the narrative as well as the ending seemed melodramatic at times. I'm really unsure of the necessity of having Peter narrate the story when he was so rarely directly involved with what was going on. Even so, I liked Georgie and her family, I liked reading about the play, and I enjoyed the book in general. "
— Savannah, 2/1/2014" This book is told from the husband's point of view with a lot of foreshadowing. The book details a historical character which makes it more interesting. The book grabbed me from page 1. It is an ending that you will not forget. "
— Sandy, 1/28/2014" This book is told from the husband's point of view with a lot of foreshadowing. The book details a historical character which makes it more interesting. The book grabbed me from page 1. It is an ending that you will not forget. "
— Sandy, 1/28/2014" I am always intrigued when people say they reread a book...this was one that I too wish to reread and also wish I had read on my Kindle so I could have easily marked passages. Full of intrigue and surprise this is a great read that will stand up to the test of time. The emotions are ones that men and women will both relate to. My favorite line is this: "But now I was a father, and being a father made you less of a man, I could see. It left you powerless to do what you really wanted to do, because you had these children, you loved these chidren, you needed them and they needed you. I could almost bring myself to despise Georgie for making me a father as much as I did for her infidelity." "
— Amanda, 1/23/2014" Wonderful writing style; couldn't put it down! "
— Charlotte, 1/19/2014" Wonderful writing style; couldn't put it down! "
— Charlotte, 1/19/2014" Interesting and unique interweaving of the plot with the one-woman play. Nancy Woodruff did a commendable job using a male narrator. Although it was rather slow in parts, the ending was a shocker and will stay with me for some time. "
— Nancy, 1/9/2014" Interesting and unique interweaving of the plot with the one-woman play. Nancy Woodruff did a commendable job using a male narrator. Although it was rather slow in parts, the ending was a shocker and will stay with me for some time. "
— Nancy, 1/9/2014" The very real dissection of a marriage that drives at the end like a thriller, like a train wreck. "
— David, 1/6/2014" The very real dissection of a marriage that drives at the end like a thriller, like a train wreck. "
— David, 1/6/2014" A married couple's collision course to catastrophe. Haunting and nuanced. Woodruff writes with devastating honesty about the compromises and betrayals of family life. "
— Janet, 1/4/2014" A married couple's collision course to catastrophe. Haunting and nuanced. Woodruff writes with devastating honesty about the compromises and betrayals of family life. "
— Janet, 1/4/2014" Wow. Didn't see that ending coming. Intense read, even with the "play within a story" premise. Finished it in a day... because I really wanted to know if they coud work it out. "
— Kelly, 12/28/2013" Wow. Didn't see that ending coming. Intense read, even with the "play within a story" premise. Finished it in a day... because I really wanted to know if they coud work it out. "
— Kelly, 12/28/2013" Too much of the play was quoted. Good plot...really surprising twist at the end. Kind of sad. "
— Ruth, 12/14/2013" Too much of the play was quoted. Good plot...really surprising twist at the end. Kind of sad. "
— Ruth, 12/14/2013" This was a pretty good intense read. It's the story of an unfulfilled housewife who returns to the stage and sets off a tragic chain of events. It's a novel filled with raw emotions about love and fidelity. "
— Maryann, 12/7/2013" This was a pretty good intense read. It's the story of an unfulfilled housewife who returns to the stage and sets off a tragic chain of events. It's a novel filled with raw emotions about love and fidelity. "
— Maryann, 12/7/2013" I loved this book! It was told from the husband's point of view. Very well written, intriguing, with an outstanding ending! "
— Carla, 8/31/2013" I loved this book! It was told from the husband's point of view. Very well written, intriguing, with an outstanding ending! "
— Carla, 8/31/2013" I've been subsisting on a diet of romance novels... which My Wife's Affair was NOT. It was tender and brutal and felt very real. But it was BLEAK and it made me CRY. (Thanks very much Molly G. for this little does of reality. Like some kind of intervention! Jeesh!) "
— Kristin, 6/5/2013" I've been subsisting on a diet of romance novels... which My Wife's Affair was NOT. It was tender and brutal and felt very real. But it was BLEAK and it made me CRY. (Thanks very much Molly G. for this little does of reality. Like some kind of intervention! Jeesh!) "
— Kristin, 6/5/2013" I think a lot of Wives with a family can relate to a lot of what Georgie was going through. "
— Jennifer, 3/23/2013" I think a lot of Wives with a family can relate to a lot of what Georgie was going through. "
— Jennifer, 3/23/2013" Brutal, goddamn brutal. My god, did this break my heart. "
— Christina, 12/9/2012" Brutal, goddamn brutal. My god, did this break my heart. "
— Christina, 12/9/2012" This is the first time out for Nancy Woodruff and it is a winner. Narrated by the husband, which adds to the novel becuse so often it is the wife's point ofview. And I do not see the ending coming. "
— Linda, 11/10/2012" This is the first time out for Nancy Woodruff and it is a winner. Narrated by the husband, which adds to the novel becuse so often it is the wife's point ofview. And I do not see the ending coming. "
— Linda, 11/10/2012" This book broke my heart...the last two chapters were especially heart-wrenching. I just want to pull my little family close to me and NEVER let them go. "
— Sherry, 7/28/2012" This book broke my heart...the last two chapters were especially heart-wrenching. I just want to pull my little family close to me and NEVER let them go. "
— Sherry, 7/28/2012" This book had it all: history, theatre, marriage, suspense!!! "
— Maribeth, 2/28/2012" This book had it all: history, theatre, marriage, suspense!!! "
— Maribeth, 2/28/2012" This is good - slightly haunting. I recommend it! "
— Jackie, 10/21/2011" This is good - slightly haunting. I recommend it! "
— Jackie, 10/21/2011" Well done - the intense foreshadowing is a bit much, but, nevertheless, the book is well written and compels you to zoom through the couple hundred pages. "
— Enid, 9/5/2011" Well done - the intense foreshadowing is a bit much, but, nevertheless, the book is well written and compels you to zoom through the couple hundred pages. "
— Enid, 9/5/2011" a really interesting take on infidelity and the toll it takes on a family, as told by the husband who's been cheated on. it's a painful, raw story, and the shocking twist at the end will send you reeling! a great read! "
— Michelle, 5/17/2011" a really interesting take on infidelity and the toll it takes on a family, as told by the husband who's been cheated on. it's a painful, raw story, and the shocking twist at the end will send you reeling! a great read! "
— Michelle, 5/17/2011" Book was ok. Got kinda boring during play monologue. Yawn. And although I didn't know exactly how it would happen I was able to figure out the ending pretty easily. Overall downer of a story. "
— Keri, 3/2/2011" Book was ok. Got kinda boring during play monologue. Yawn. And although I didn't know exactly how it would happen I was able to figure out the ending pretty easily. Overall downer of a story. "
— Keri, 3/2/2011" Held my interest more and more as I kept reading..loved it, interesting that it is told from the husbands perspective. "
— Jennifer, 2/27/2011" Held my interest more and more as I kept reading..loved it, interesting that it is told from the husbands perspective. "
— Jennifer, 2/27/2011" This is the first time out for Nancy Woodruff and it is a winner. Narrated by the husband, which adds to the novel becuse so often it is the wife's point ofview. And I do not see the ending coming. "
— Linda, 2/5/2011" This is the first time out for Nancy Woodruff and it is a winner. Narrated by the husband, which adds to the novel becuse so often it is the wife's point ofview. And I do not see the ending coming. "
— Linda, 2/5/2011" This book is told from the husband's point of view with a lot of foreshadowing. The book details a historical character which makes it more interesting. The book grabbed me from page 1. It is an ending that you will not forget. "
— Sandy, 2/1/2011" This book is told from the husband's point of view with a lot of foreshadowing. The book details a historical character which makes it more interesting. The book grabbed me from page 1. It is an ending that you will not forget. "
— Sandy, 2/1/2011" This book was calling out for 4 stars all the way through and the powerful ending notched it up to 5. Beautifully written book where the language did not interfere with the story, which was compelling (actually both parallel stories were compelling). Very hard to put down, so I rarely did. "
— Mary, 11/26/2010" This book was calling out for 4 stars all the way through and the powerful ending notched it up to 5. Beautifully written book where the language did not interfere with the story, which was compelling (actually both parallel stories were compelling). Very hard to put down, so I rarely did. "
— Mary, 11/26/2010" Well done - the intense foreshadowing is a bit much, but, nevertheless, the book is well written and compels you to zoom through the couple hundred pages. "
— Enid, 11/4/2010" Well done - the intense foreshadowing is a bit much, but, nevertheless, the book is well written and compels you to zoom through the couple hundred pages. "
— Enid, 11/4/2010" pretty good tale that ends tragically.... "
— Sandy, 9/20/2010" pretty good tale that ends tragically.... "
— Sandy, 9/20/2010" Wonderful writing style; couldn't put it down! "
— Charlotte, 9/3/2010" Wonderful writing style; couldn't put it down! "
— Charlotte, 9/3/2010" I feel guilty giving it a 4 because of its tragic end. "
— Jolen, 8/20/2010" I feel guilty giving it a 4 because of its tragic end. "
— Jolen, 8/20/2010" A beautifully written page turner. Written from the perspective of the husband but with insight and clarity that might surprise one. I would like to read more from this author. "
— Susan, 8/16/2010" A beautifully written page turner. Written from the perspective of the husband but with insight and clarity that might surprise one. I would like to read more from this author. "
— Susan, 8/16/2010Nancy Woodruff received her MFA from Columbia University, where she won the Henfield/Transatlantic Review Award. She taught writing at Columbia and SUNY Purchase before moving in 1997 to London, where she taught for eight years at Richmond, the American International University. The author of Someone Else’s Child, Woodruff currently teaches at New York University and lives in Brooklyn with her husband, sons, and daughter.
Johnny Heller, winner of numerous Earphones and Audie Awards, was named a “Golden Voice” by AudioFile magazine in 2019. He has been a Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Award winner from 2008 through 2013 and he has been named a top voice of 2008 and 2009 and selected as one of the Top 50 Narrators of the Twentieth Century by AudioFile magazine.