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A midwife's tale
the life of Martha Ballard, based on her diary, 1785-1812
First published 1990 · 444 pages
An intimate, meticulously researched window into the daily rhythms and quiet labors of an eighteenth-century woman's life.
What it feels like
This immersive biography offers a steady, reflective journey into the eighteenth century, anchored by the meticulous daily records of a Maine midwife. The reading experience feels deeply grounded and observant, moving at the natural, unhurried pace of a life lived day by day over twenty-seven years. The prose thoughtfully weaves primary source diary entries with careful historical analysis, creating an atmosphere that is both scholarly and profoundly intimate. It explores themes of women's labor, community care, and the quiet weight of domestic history. Readers who appreciate micro-histories and find emotional resonance in the preservation of ordinary, forgotten voices will be captivated by this respectful, illuminating window into early American social life and customs.
- Mood
- reflective
- immersive
- quiet
- grounded
- Tone
- scholarly
- intimate
- observant
- respectful
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- daily life and labor · women's historical experiences · the passage of time · community care
- The writing
- Meticulous and analytical, weaving primary source diary entries with thoughtful historical context.
- The arc
- A grounded journey through the rhythms of a lifetime, moving from daily observations to a profound appreciation of ordinary historical existence.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love deeply researched micro-histories and finding profound meaning in the daily lives of ordinary women from the past.
Content notes
- childbirth
- medical procedures
About the book
Presents the life of Martha Ballard, a midwife in Maine during the eighteenth century, by drawing on the detailed diary she kept for twenty-seven years of her life.
Description from Open Library.
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