A Midwife’s Tale

The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812

De: Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

Narrado por: Susan Ericksen

Duración: 15 h y 42 m

Resumen del Editor

Drawing on the diaries of one woman in 18th-century Maine, this intimate history illuminates the medical practices, household economies, religious rivalries, and sexual mores of the New England frontier.

Between 1785 and 1812, a midwife and healer named Martha Ballard kept a diary that recorded her arduous work (in 27 years she attended 816 births) as well as her domestic life in Hallowell, Maine. On the basis of that diary, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich gives us an intimate and densely imagined portrait, not only of the industrious and reticent Martha Ballard but of her society. At once lively and impeccably scholarly, A Midwife's Tale is a triumph of history on a human scale.

©1990 Laurel Thatcher Ulrich (P)2017 Tantor

Reseñas de la Crítica

"A truly talented historian unravels the fascinating life of a community that is so foreign, and yet so similar to our own." ( New York Times)

The diary itself

I don't necessarily agree with the authors interpretation of what Martha was going through while her husband was in jail. From the diary notes, it seems it was a very difficult time for her, and I think maybe her family should have jumped in and helped a little more.
I enjoyed the story, although a little boring at times, for the most part it was very informative.

A cherished slice of history

As an 18th century living historian, to have this documentation is priceless. Yes hard to follow at times, Some wording is not in the modern words we currently know. Excellent reference book for anyone with a love of 18th century New England.

Insights into 18th C life worth initial profusion of dense detail.

Ulrich’s contextualization of Martha Ballard’s life and times is a virtuoso interweaving of hundreds of related primary source and a rich, deep understanding of the time period. I found the minutiae a bit dense at times, but the narrative payoff was well worth a bit of patience. I was fascinated by the analysis of 18th century courtship, marriage, religion, physical and sexual assault, murder, suicide, legal structures, debtors prison, etc. And then there is the midwifery!

Insightful and Surprising

A revealing and intimate look at the past that gets away from the back rooms and battlefields of most works of history.

drew me in

It was slow going at first, but grabbed me a couple chapters in and didn't let go. Great narration, fascinating history, and I absolutely fell in love with Martha. Will probably listen again in a couple years.

One of My Favorite Books of All Time

I learned about this book in college when taking a class about microhistories. Microhistories take a look at a certain event or document, or even a person's life and looks at the layers of histories that surround it and contextualize it. And Ulrich's book is one of the best examples I've seen of this genre. As a result, it's become a book I've returned many times to and consider one of my favorite books of all time.

When I learned it was an Audible book, I decided to get it. For Martha Ballard's story is fascinating, whether you're reading the book or listening. She performed over 800 deliveries over the course of her midwifery practice and served as a recognized and respected healer and medical practitioner too in her community. And all this while running a household of six children with an often absent surveyor husband in a frontier town in New England. But Martha's life doesn't just revolve around her practice, as Ulrich shows. She was part of her town's local economy, trading goods and working with her neighbors to provide useable materials. She was a witness to many unwed mothers who sued the fathers of their children for financial support. She was also a pious woman who was burdened with many cares and struggled sometimes to keep going.

There's a lot to admire in Martha's diary, which shows women of the frontier in the late 18th and early 19th centuries in a different light than may be supposed. While women like Martha were mothers and wives, they also were independent, resourceful, self-sustaining and communal. When a mother was about to give birth, her neighbors and kin were there to help her through it. If a family fell ill, the women were often in charge of nursing the sick and handling the dead. It's surprising then, to hear how a feminist midwifery journal dismissed the diary for its mundane entries. As Ulrich shows, the diary needs these entries to explain how women like Martha and her family and friends kept their communities and families afloat in a town that was very much new and constantly changing.

The chapters that fascinate me most are the ones on Martha's economic doings, why New England was rife with premarital pregnancy, how childbirth practices operated in Martha's practice and the chapter on the history of her daughter-in-law's sister and the brief life of her illegitimate child. But every chapter in this book is important in understanding why Martha's diary is unique and important to understand New England history and the roles of women like Martha in it.

Susan Ericksen's reading was good for this book. There were some awkward pauses every so often but otherwise I found no fault with this rendition.

Personally, as an MLS student and a person with an MA in history, I'd love to be the one to properly transcribe Martha's diary as it was promised to her descendant if I had the time and ability. I love diaries and have kept one myself since I was nine. And not only would the work prove useful, but it would mean learning more about this unforgettable woman and her work in her community in a time when women's history is more important than ever.

7th generation granddaughter

As a seventh generation granddaughter of Martha Ballard, A Maine native and now resident of Rome , Maine this historical account of Martha’s life provides new insight to the strength, independence and legacy of Ballard women.

Good Mix of Primary and Narrative

This audiobook includes decently long segments of a commoner’s diary but provides crucial analysis in its chapter formatting. I found it useful as a K-12 teacher in the northeastern US, but anyone interested in the functioning of daily New England life at the turn of the 19th century will enjoy it.

This was clearly a careful consultation of the primary source record of the diary, it includes reference to a number of additional pertinent sources in order to find narrative chunks.

There is a once erased history of the women’s sphere accounting to the culture of the time that is worth hearing about. I could see any medical practitioner or modern working woman being interested in this as a point of comparison as well. Great book! Competent inoffensive narration.

If you ever want to Know What Women Do All Day While At Home

Martha Ballard’s history as told by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich explains what women did in the late 1700s colonial America. It shows the value of their work, relationships, and non-profit economy as well as capital gain. It shows how me. And women worked cooperatively to survive. This is the unsung story of women. Most Women’s history contains only women who leave childrearing and community-building to enter the workforce.

It is LONG overdue and if I taught this time period of history it would be required reading. I want more books like this! Thank you Dr. Ulrich!!!

new England history

amazing history for women & our for father's in general. she was an amazing women. So glad I got to know about what they all went through as a community.