ANNOTATION
On the basis of a diary, Ulrich gives the reader an intimate and densely imagined portrait of the industrious and reticent Martha Ballard and her society--a portrait that sheds light on its medical practices, religious squabbles and sexual mores. A winner of the Pulitzer Prize.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Drawing on the diaries of a midwife and healer in eighteenth-century Maine, this intimate history illuminates the medical practices, household economies, religious rivalries, and sexual mores of the New England frontier.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
The diary of a midwife and herbalist reveals the prevalence of violence, crime and premarital sex in rural 18th-century New England. ``Fleshing out this midwife's bare entries with interpretive essays . . . Ulrich marvelously illuminates women's status, the history of medicine and daily life in the early Republic,'' said PW . Illustrated. (June)
Library Journal
This book is a model of social history at its best. An exegesis of Ballard's diary, it recounts the life and times of this obscure Maine housewife and midwife. Using passages from the diary as a starting point for each chapter division, Ulrich, a professor at the University of New Hampshire, demonstrates how the seemingly trivial details of Ballard's daily life reflect and relate to prominent themes in the history of the early republic: the role of women in the economic life of the community, the nature of marriage and sexual relations, the scope of medical knowledge and practice. Speculating on why Ballard kept the diary as well as why her family saved it, Ulrich highlights the document's usefulness for historians.-- Marie Marmo Mullaney, Caldwell Coll., N.J.

This softcover book was purchased at Goodwill to pass along through bookcrossing.

RELEASE NOTES:

From Colorado to Washington, this book begins its bookcrossing adventures by being a bookring.

Bookring List So Far:

One4worldpeace WA
Everett-Reader WA
MollyGrue WA
Fizzfred CA
1stlite MT
Emmalope PA
and back to Siriradha CO

Thank you for the book. Your so sweet to put me in your bookring. I have about 100 pages left on the book I'm reading now, so I should be able to start this right away.

I finished this book this weekend. It took me a while because this book can be a bit scholarly at places. This book is a commentary on life in Maine between 1785-1812 based on one woman's daily diary. The book also looks at other diary's written during the same time, and town records to explore society and woman's roles in that time.

I think I was expecting more of a story of a midwife. There was surprising little time spent on actual midwifery in this book, maybe a chapter or two. It is even commented on in the book that Mrs. Ballard didn't put much detail about births in her diary. Just that the woman was very ill, and then that she was delivered. More time is spent in this book on the herbs and things that Martha used to heal, but still not much information is given.

RELEASE NOTES:

Traveling up I-5 to Everett-Reader

Recieved today from One4WorldPeace - media mail was fast this time, but then again it was a short trip! I will be starting this book in just a few days. Thanks for including me in the ring.

What made this book interesting was that the author wove the diary entries in with what was happening in society at large and how Martha Ballard's life fit into that. For example, extensive time was spent developing an understanding of how midwives worked with doctors and how that relationship was changing toward the end of Martha's life. The book also devled into topics such as unwed mothers and how that was handled in the society at the time - different then what you might think.

Unfortunately, Martha's diary was mostly a factual account of her midwife (and caring for the ill) services such as who she saw and how much she was paid. She also chronicled her own aches and pains as she aged, but it tended to be very short notes rather then words that made you know the characters. It was hard to really develop much interest in the individual people so as a novel, it was not a very compelling read. I did like learning a bit more about life in New England around 1800 though.

Thank you for sharing this book on a book ring!

I'm looking forward to reading this. Thanks!

I've tried reading this and just can't seem to get into it. Rather than hold it up longer, I'm going to let it go on to the next person.

DC# 03041070000256435204

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Happy reading!

Thanks MollyGrue. I received this book yesterday. I'll read it as soon as I finish the book I am reading now.

3/30 I have been reading this for over a month now but I am almost finished. Thank you, siriradha for letting me keep it a little longer.

Thank you so much, siriradha, for giving me extra time to finish this book. Although it was a bit tough to read for me, it held my interest all along. The author really did a great job comparing and contrasting Martha's diary with all of the other available information. She reallly fleshes out what life was like for Martha. And, wow, what a life! This whole book was fascinating and I am so glad I got to read it.

After PMing 1stlite on 4/6, 4/12 and 4/21 and posting an ISO on the Bookring Forum on 4/21, I received a PM asking to be skipped. :)
I am now waiting for Emmalope address.

I am finally getting this in the mail to Emmalope. Enjoy!!!

It's here! I will start it as soon as I finish my current book, which is, ironically, Midwives by Chris Bohjalian

This book was finally sent on its way. I didn't get to finish it with all life's demands (new baby) I'm very sorry I had it so long.