Amidst the violent weather of Europe's Little Ice Age, "A Slender Tether" offers a novel in linked stories on self-discovery, woven into a rich tapestry of 14th century France. Christine de Pizan, now heralded as Europe's first feminist and brilliant author, grapples with ambition and alienation amid the beautiful women at court. A doctor finds an unusual way to cope with the death of his wife. And opportunity alternates with disasters in the lives of four commoners who are yoked by necessity: a papermaker struggling to keep his business, a falconer with a mysterious past, a merchant's daughter frantic to avoid an arranged marriage, and a down-on-his-luck musician with a broken guitar and the voice of an angel.