The Midwife

by Gay Courter

Book Overview

Hannah Blau, a young midwife, is driven by a passion to help other women-from Russian noblewomen to prostitutes-bring their babies safely into the world. After surviving pogroms, she emigrates to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451115031
• ISBN13: 9780451115034
• Release Date: April 1985
• Publisher: Signet Book
• Length: 522 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.

Customer Reviews

So rich in detail!

Beautiful book. I love books about medicine and historical fiction so it's a perfect fit for me! I love Gay Courter!

Wonderful!

I bought this book from a yardsale for a dollar, and didn't expect much. I regret that I actually set it at the bottom of my reading list because the moment I started reading it, I was hooked. It's an engrossing, educating and incredibly entertaining rea, rich in period detail. It's one of my favorite pieces of historical fiction. I highly recommend it, as well as this book's sequel, "The Midwife's Advice."

Brilliant writing! Beautiful story!

Though I was intimidated by the length of this book, I am so glad I read it. I immediately fell in love with the writing style, the subject matter and the characters. Midwifery is a hot topic for me and this book was right up my alley. In addition to the midwifery aspects of the book, there was also plenty of story to go with it. Fleeing from your homeland, living in steerage on a boat, learning the culture of a new country, and so much more. Courter did a wonderful job expressing such a beautiful story. I've yet to read the sequel but it's on my list of things to read this year!

Wake Up Call

When I read this book, I just couldn't put it down. I felt as though I was a valuable part of her life, throughout this book, and in the follow up book, "The Midwife's Advice." Reading this book provided me with a chance to reaffirm my beliefs, as a woman. The wonderful thing about this story, and in the other books by this author is that you can explore your own life, as the characters unfold. So many things that Hannah and those close to her said, in response to their life's struggles, I have copied into my quotes journal. And now some of their responses are part of my way of being amongst others. You don't have to be a mother, a medical professional, or a woman to get a great deal from this book. It speaks to the human spirit, across the board.

best childbirth fiction book ever

i've read the midwife so many times that my current copy is torn and tattered! hannah is amazing and the tales from the russian pograms to the early 1900 childbirths at home are an inspiration in this time and age when women are getting back to simplified not interventioned births. the writer does a superior job of her descriptions of characters, i feel as if i know hannah and feel her struggles. this is one of my favorite books of all time! i recommend it without reservation...mbw

Exciting weaving of history, nursing and romanticism

I read this book in 2 days because I couldn't put it down.I'm a nurse and the parts related to birthing were fascinating, along with the bits of history and the relationships that developed throughout the novel.I highly recommend it as a good read!