A Tradwife Travels Back in Time in 'Yesteryear'

In this episode of All of It, host Alison Stewart interviews debut novelist Carol Claire Burke about her satirical novel Yesteryear, a sharp, darkly comic exploration of the 'tradwife' phenomenon. The story follows Natalie Heller Mills, a hyper-perfect, self-described 'flawless Christian woman' who drops out of Harvard to marry into a political dynasty and live a curated, performative traditional life in rural Idaho—complete with chickens, homeschooling, and viral social media content. When Natalie wakes up one day to find herself inexplicably transported to 1855, she must confront the brutal realities of pre-modern life, forcing her to reevaluate the authenticity of her own performance. Burke uses the time-travel premise to expose the contradictions in modern gender roles, performative feminism, and the commodification of domesticity. The novel blends biting irony with psychological depth, revealing Natalie’s inner cynicism and ambition beneath her flawless exterior. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the real 'yesteryear' isn't the past—it's the illusion of control and perfection that modern women are pressured to maintain. The conversation delves into the origins of Burke’s fascination with the tradwife trend, sparked by her immersion in TikTok culture in 2024. She reflects on how the genre sits at the intersection of feminism, class, religion, and capitalism, using fiction to dissect the performative nature of identity in the digital age. Burke reveals her own creative process—writing the first draft in just nine weeks, guided by Natalie’s distinct voice—and discusses the challenges of pacing a thriller without revealing the mystery too soon. The novel has already been optioned for a film adaptation starring Anne Hathaway, adding to its cultural resonance. With themes of ambition, fear, and the cost of perfection, Yesteryear is both a cautionary tale and a mirror held up to contemporary womanhood. The episode ends with Burke reflecting on her own pregnancy, adding a poignant layer to the book’s exploration of motherhood and identity.