The Pain and Sorrow of Evil Marriage

The Pain and Sorrow of Evil Marriage by Wynkyn de Worde crackles with mordant humor, presenting a 16th-century comic tract that lampoons the domestic trials of matrimony. This historical satire in humorous verse preserves one of three early Tudor pieces on marriage—short, witty laments that mock both hastily and belatedly entered unions. Attributed to an anonymous "Auctour" and surviving in a unique Wynkyn de Worde printing, the poem mixes plain English with anglicized French turns of phrase and even closes with a clever epilogue that doubles as the printer’s colophon. Listeners will encounter vivid period attitudes toward gender roles, courtship, and household life filtered through comic exaggeration rather than moralizing sermon. The text offers a lively window into early English popular literature, the mechanics of early printing, and the social anxieties of the late medieval–early Tudor era without modern spoilers—its bite and wit remain the draw. Perfect for fans of early English poetry, literary history, and historical humor, this audiobook is an engaging pick for anyone curious about marriage satire, the history of the printed word, or the vernacular voices of 16th-century England.