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The [ ]‘s Wife

JK Evanczuk / Tuesday, April 13, 2010 View Comments

Out of personal interest, I’ve been keeping a running list of all novels entitled The [ ]‘s Wife. I tend to think the titles are unimaginative, patriarchal, and, in the cases of books like The Greek Tycoon’s Unexpected Wife, a little absurd. However, they’re also apparently ubiquitous, as my list is now about 100 titles and counting. I thought I would share them with you:

A Circuit Rider’s Wife

A Mummer’s Wife

A Trucker’s Wife

A Fugitive’s Wife

The Zookeeper’s Wife

The Time Traveler’s Wife

The Shape-Changer’s Wife

The Senator’s Wife

The Pilot’s Wife

The Doctor’s Wife

The Bishop’s Wife

The Pastor’s Wife

The Preachor’s Wife

The Dopeman’s Wife

The Kitchen God’s Wife

The Miner’s Wife

The Executive’s Wife

The Lawman’s Wife

The Diplomat’s Wife

The Lesbian’s Wife

The World’s Wife

The Moon’s Wife

The Prisoner’s Wife

The Butcher’s Wife

The Traitor’s Wife

The Merry Monarch’s Wife

The Saddlemaker’s Wife

The Emancipator’s Wife

The Magician’s Wife

The Captain’s Wife

The Spy’s Wife

The Fireman’s Wife

The Artist’s Wife

The Salaryman’s Wife

The Venetian’s Wife

The Killer’s Wife

The Torturer’s Wife

The Samurai’s Wife

The Banker’s Wife

The Heretic’s Wife

The God’s Wife

The Astronaut’s Wife

The Politician’s Wife

The Mapmaker’s Wife

The Sniper’s Wife

The Cattle Baron’s Virgin Wife

The Italian Millionaires Virgin Wife

The Millionaire’s Waitress Wife

The Prince’s Waitress Wife

The Spanish Billionaire’s Pregnant Wife

The Greek Tycoon’s Unexpected Wife

The Greek Tycoon’s Pregnant Wife

The Greek’s Bought Wife

The Farmer’s Wife

The Surgeon’s Wife

The Curate’s Wife

The Innkeeper’s Wife

The Conquerer’s Wife

The Trader’s Wife

The Rancher’s Wife

The Bad Boy’s Wife

The Tailor’s Wife

The Carpenter’s Wife

The President’s Wife

The Brother’s Wife

The Englishman’s Wife

The Photographer’s Wife

The Goldsmith’s Wife

The Ambassador’s Wife

The Sheik’s Chosen Wife

The Desert Sheikh’s Captive Wife

The Slave Trader’s Wife

The Rooster’s Wife

The Rabbi’s Wife

The Nazi’s Wife

The Nazi Officer’s Wife

The Rapist’s Wife

The Mediterranean’s Wife by Contract

The Leopard’s Wife

The Undertaker’s Wife

The Governer’s Wife

The Tomcat’s Wife

The Coach’s Wife

The Earl’s Wife

The Duke’s Secret Wife

The Dollar Prince’s Wife

The Sea Captain’s Wife

The Footballer’s Wife

The Minister’s Wife

The Burgomaster’s Wife

The Shopkeeper’s Wife

The Tycoon’s Wife

The Sheriff’s Wife

The Jonkheer’s Wife

The Soldier’s Wife

The Mechanic and the Doctor’s Wife

The Editor’s Wife

The Collector’s Wife

Here is a list of books not currently in existence, but I would love to see on the shelves:

The Alien’s Wife

The Retired Leprechaun’s Wife

The Disillusioned Cheerleader’s Wife

The Nosepicker’s Wife

The Potted Plant’s Wife

Feel free to add to the list.

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  • http://www.deckfight.com deckfight

    awesome list

  • http://takeitlikeamun.com/ Alex

    I’m looking forward to the nautical trilogy:

    The Alewife’s Wife
    The Kraken’s Wife
    The Navy’s Navy Wife

  • http://yingleyangle.blogspot.com/ Paulo Campos

    The Polygamist’s Wife
    The Polygamist’s Other Wife
    The Polygamist’s Suspicious Widows

  • http://hemingwayheroine.blogspot.com NicoleS

    You should do The []‘s Daughter next.

    @Paulo Campos — AMAZING!

  • http://www.twilightspy.blogspot.com Tracer

    Great list. Now I have to go tally all the “The []‘s Daughter” titles. Really, this has GOT to stop.

  • http://readingwritingraptures.blogspot.com/ Bethany B.

    Great list. That’s not even including all those _The []‘s Bride_ or _The []‘s Woman.

  • http://waverlyandwaverly.wordpress.com Nicole

    I’m curious to know how many of these are Harlequin titles. I work in a bookstore and could not help but notice this trend in their romance series. They also have some of the silliest and most offensive title’s I’ve ever come across, my “favorite” being Ruthlessly Bedded, Forcibly Wedded.

  • http://www.litdrift.com JK Evanczuk

    Some of these are indeed romance titles. You can probably guess which ones:

    The Cattle Baron’s Virgin Wife
    The Italian Millionaires Virgin Wife
    The Millionaire’s Waitress Wife
    The Prince’s Waitress Wife
    The Spanish Billionaire’s Pregnant Wife
    The Greek Tycoon’s Unexpected Wife
    The Greek Tycoon’s Pregnant Wife
    The Greek’s Bought Wife

    …for example. But I was still surprised/disappointed to see how many works of literary and/or mainstream fiction that used this sort of title as well.

    Also, “Ruthlessly Bedded, Forcibly Wedded” is hilarious.

  • http://palegirlinthecity.tumblr.com Annie

    I am so happy you put this list together. The “Someone’s Wife” title convention is my literary pet peeve. Justified rage!

  • Laurie

    YIKES!!! Can I say it again? YIKES!!!

  • Amanda Leigh

    I want to see “The Wife’s Wife”

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