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Fiction. Literature. Mystery. Historical Fiction. HTML:AN NPR BOOK OF THE YEAR � From the New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name H�l�ne comes a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history. "Fans of Outlander�s Claire Fraser will enjoy Lawhon�s Martha, who is brave and outspoken when it comes to protecting the innocent. . . impressive."�The Washington Post "Once again, Lawhon works storytelling magic with a real-life heroine." �People Magazine Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town�s most respected gentlemen�one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own. Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie. Clever, layered, and subversive, Ariel Lawhon�s newest offering introduces an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were considered best seen and not heard. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day.… (more)
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The young pastor's wife was violently beaten and violated in the summer. Later in the year one of the
Martha Ballard (February 9, 1735 – June 9, 1812) was an American midwife, diarist, and healer.
According to Wiki, "she was among community medical personnel, with numerous male doctors often called as well as Ballard at births; however, male physicians could override midwives when they wished to, despite the experience and expertise of the midwife.[10] Ballard was sometimes called to observe autopsies and recorded 85 instances of what she called "desections" in her diary.[3] She also took testimonies from unwed mothers that was used in paternity suits. In addition to her medical and judicial responsibilities"
I requested and received an uncorrected ebook file from Doubleday Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
of note: I have been a hospital OB nurse and we have five children who joined us in Revolutionary War reenacting for a number of years. We geek history.
I loved this story. I found it fascinating that Martha never lost a mother while delivering babies, and how her life was affected by rape. The author changed some events, but the spotlight on this amazing woman is interesting.
Martha is a midwife by training and much respected in her small community. In the aftermath of the rape, she stands solidly behind the victim, despite one of the judges being accused of the crime. This was a time when women were publicly shamed, fined and/or incarcerated for acts of moral turpitude while men were held to a different standard. There is a death that figures prominently from the beginning of the novel.
This is an engrossing read, especially after reading the author's notes at the end.
Premise/plot: Martha Ballard, a midwife, witnesses much in her community. She often ends up testifying in court sharing her observations and notes. IN The Frozen River, she is struggling with the injustice of it all. A local woman has been gang-assaulted while her husband was away; she's identified the men involved. Martha visited her days later and can testify to her physical and emotional state. But despite both being willing to testify in court--despite the horrendous nature of the crimes--justice seems unlikely within the system at least. One of the perpetrators is the dead man found in the frozen river. The second, well, he holds a position of power.
The novel chronicles about a year of time, I believe. Much happens within the community.
My thoughts: The novel is loosely based on a historical figure. This is not the first book about Martha Ballard, a real midwife in early America. The author details how much she changed, rearranged, condensed, and reimagined for her novel.
This one was LONG. It is definitely more of a journey than a destination, in my opinion. In other words, IF you start the novel and are drawn into the story by the characters, keep reading you'll likely enjoy the book as a whole. I personally would have preferred fewer flashbacks. Flashing back to Martha's past did nothing for me. None of the flashbacks seemed to move the present story forward.
I loved everything about this book. Martha is a character that is tough as nails and smart as a whip! And this time period…oh my word. What women went through to just be heard, not even believed, just heard!
The research that went into the tale is amazing. I loved learning about the court system in that time period. I had no idea about some if the processes and the way things worked back then.
I have said this before and I will say this again…I LOVE A BOOK WHICH HAS ME RESEARCHING. I could not wait to look up Martha Ballard and to learn more about her life!
Need a book which is intense and will keep you up long into the night…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
Set in 1789 Maine, Martha, whose primary medical responsibility is to deliver babies, is called upon to examine a corpse pulled from the frozen Kennebeck River.
Portrayal of 18th century life and justice is captivating, especially viz a viz the treatment of women and their lack of respect/standing in the courtroom. The story moves quickly, and Lawhon’s prose is superb.
I greatly enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who is an aficionado of historical fiction.
Ariel Lawhon with her brilliant prose and vivid
Highly recommended this book about Martha Ballad, an exceptional woman, fighting for justice.
I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Doubleday through NetGalley. I was not obligated to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
The Frozen River is based on the life of Martha Ballard, a midwife in Maine who delivered
The Frozen River is incredibly rich in historical detail: the sexist laws, the aftereffects of the French and Indian War, and the ebb and flow of life during a winter in colonial Maine. I felt as though I were right beside Martha each and every day. Occasional chapters fill in her backstory. A silver fox Martha named Tempest makes several appearances, and the relationship between Martha and her husband Ephraim is a thing of beauty. Coleman's General Store is the place where Martha barters for books and the latest gossip, and I love how she would gift newlyweds with one of her quilts: "Everyone must sleep, and to do so beneath a warm quilt, tenderly made, is the first thing that helps a house become a home."
The Frozen River is wonderfully evocative of its time and place. It's a compelling mystery. It's based on the life of a remarkable woman. Read it.
Lawhon gives us a nuanced heroine in Martha Ballad. Not only is she a competent and caring medical professional, but also a middle-aged mother of nine children with six surviving. She enjoys a stable marriage of 35 years to Ephraim, who runs a successful sawmill. Martha gets involved in the murder mystery when she is called to examine the body of Joshua Burgess and concludes that he did not die of natural causes. Her conclusion is disputed, however, by the new village physician, a vain man with little to no experience with childbirth. Martha feels compelled to investigate further because of this dispute. She quickly sees multiple links between this murder and the rape of the wife of the village parson. Complications galore ensue, including accusations against her mute son, and a scoundrel judge who holds the lease to her family’s property.
Lawhon’s twisty plot has enough suspense, skullduggery, and sexiness to keep most readers amused. However, the most compelling scenes come at deliveries and in courtrooms (in this case it is frequently the town tavern). Lawhon successfully uses Martha’s voice in her dairies to evoke a close personal narrative. For me, Lawhon’s only shortcoming comes with a few unrealistic male characters. Ephraim, Martha’s husband was a bit too good to be true; North, the village judge had few redeeming qualities and was way too ruthless; Dr. Benjamin Page, the Harvard-educated physician who belittles Martha was too much of an ass for my tastes. Lawhon, on the other hand, seems to excel at writing nuanced women characters, including Martha’s daughters, who are on the hunt for marriageable mates; Rebecca Foster, the woman pregnant with her rapists’ child; and especially Doctor, the mysterious indigenous healer.