A Midwife’s Tale

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

By: Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

Length: 15 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

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

Critic reviews

"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.

The details she wrote

The travel she endured for her patients, She was dedicated and a value to the community.

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.

Superb

This is a book better as audible where the rather needful text book style is allowed to come alive in the mind of the listener. Martha was truly a remarkable woman. I am especially amazed and intriuged by the entire networking of women and their work. The incredible "busy-ness" of the women in general. I mean the way they borrowed, bought from and relied on each other. Having spent the majority of my life in a rural setting where original settlers were more isolated I understand more clearly the high price that was paid by these settlers. It becomes clearer why (as I understand it) suicide among early female western settlers was so high.
I especially loved the simple facts.. that while Martha owned a loom, a shuttle must be borrowed from a neighbor. The revieling gardening practises. (I never thought to save plants and cuttings over winter) and in a short growing season such as where I live, it makes much better sense than to always start from seed, even if sprouting indoors. So much information. So much life. it gives a certain pride back to those of us women who never found themselves in history lessons or stories, but desperative needed to do so. While Martha and her family give an importortant gift by the recording and maintaining of the life in this diary, it is the intense scrutiny, cross reference and research of the records surrounding this diary that Laurel Thatcher Ulrich is able to to turn this woman's life story into the incredibly well detailed account of the worthwhile womanhood in early american history. This book should be manditory reading for all young adults in high school.

Diary reveals hidden Maine history

Laurel Thatcher Ulrich's elegant and detailed account of life in 17th century Maine is based on the diary of Martha Ballard, a busy midwife family leader, and farm wife. Times, places personalities, and lifestyle come to vivid life as the author mingles excerpts from the actual diary and solid historical research for a compelling saga.

Such a rich book

There is so much to absorb and glean from this rich diary and the treatment of it. I enjoyed the author categorizing the topics and expounding on them. This is a story that speaks to the impact of a life lived in service to one's family and one's community. The last chapter unnecessarily overlays feminism where I don't think it needed to be. Martha's life speaks of the struggles of women in her time, and although we have the 20/20 hindsight luxury, I don't believe she viewed herself as a victim of that time.
I highly recommend this book!

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.

A Historian's History for the Ages

This book is absolutely remarkable in the depth of the research, the conciseness of the prose, and the intimacy of the story. Ulrich uses Martha Ballard's diary as a springboard for exploring a multitude of topics, including gender roles, economic Independence, religious dissent, the psychological impact of an axe murder, and the singular contribution of just one woman who was doing her best. This book is the ideal monograph and invaluable tool to all aspiring historians and diarists alike. For my part, I was inspired to start keeping my own diary and return to the primary source research I have neglected since college. I cannot recommend this book enough!