#13327
Mentioned in 3 episodes
A midwife's tale
the life of Martha Ballard, based on her diary, 1785-1812
Book • 1990
This book, written by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, is a meticulously researched historical account based on the diary of Martha Ballard, who kept a detailed record of her work as a midwife and healer in Hallowell, Maine, from 1785 to 1812.
The book offers an intimate and densely imagined portrait not only of Martha Ballard but also of her society, shedding light on medical practices, religious conflicts, sexual mores, and the roles of women in the early American republic.
Ulrich's work is praised for its scholarly rigor and engaging narrative, making it a triumph of history on a human scale.
The book offers an intimate and densely imagined portrait not only of Martha Ballard but also of her society, shedding light on medical practices, religious conflicts, sexual mores, and the roles of women in the early American republic.
Ulrich's work is praised for its scholarly rigor and engaging narrative, making it a triumph of history on a human scale.
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Mentioned in 3 episodes
Recommended by Arielle Lawhon as a definitive history of Martha Ballard's life.
15 snips
A midwife's early American story
