The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon was a powerful book. The plot follows the life of Martha Ballard, a midwife, wife and mother in Hallowell, Maine during the 18th century.
Though the town is a small rural town in upstate Maine, the houses of the wealthy are incredibly built. The government is in its early stages and the court sits in Massachusetts. Historically this is a fascinating story. A difficult time to be a woman. Very few rights and very little protection. Martha fights to solve a murder and save the reputation of a woman who has been raped.
Martha is also fighting a new doctor who has arrived with schooling from Harvard, but all of the births he has attended have been still born. Martha is trying to push him out before more births are in danger.
She is a change maker and her journals are invaluable for historical memory of life in America
No comments:
Post a Comment