The Women at the Well

In The Women at the Well, Bauer sings out ofsilent alternative stories of the Biblical women shefirst encountered as a schoolgirl listening to thenuns. Wry humor is only one element of Bauersilluminating re-vision as she inhabits her womenin the longing, sassiness, rebellion, compassion,wavering, and triumph. She lets them like eachotherRachel and Leah reconcileand letsthem relish their bodies. Mary complains aboutnever `knowing pleasure. She creates The ProdigalDaughter who, like Woolf s Judith Shakespeare,experiences a vastly different fate from her malecounterparts. But unlike poor Judith, this daughtersurvives and bears her own girl child . . . I had myfavorites among Bauers women, and you will,too. Whoever they are, the Bible will never be thesame.Carole Simmons Oles