'The Frozen River' tells the fictionalized story of a real 18th century midwife

Martha Ballard: The Heroine of 'The Frozen River'

The novel 'The Frozen River' by Ariel Lohan introduces Martha Ballard, a genuine heroine who actually existed in the late 1700s in Hollowell, Maine. Martha Ballard was not just a midwife, but a versatile medical professional who tended to wounds, performed surgeries, and even conducted autopsies. In the story, Ballard is called in to examine a dead body and determine the cause of death. Lohan was inspired to write this novel after accidentally discovering Martha Ballard's story in a devotional book. One of the captivating aspects of Martha Ballard was that she kept a diary for 30 years, recording the secrets, deaths, and scandals of her small town. Lohan seeks to break the stereotype of young heroines in novels and instead portrays a mature woman in her 50s as the main character, highlighting the importance of mature women as heroes in storytelling.