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The Midwife

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The Midwife

By: Tricia Cresswell
Narrated by: Kristin Atherton, Tricia Cresswell
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About this listen

This audiobook includes a touching acknowledgements chapter read by the author, Tricia Cresswell.

A haunting and moving historical fiction, The Midwife by Tricia Cresswell is perfect for fans of The Familiars and The Binding.

1838. After a violent storm, a woman is found alone, naked and near death, on the Northumberland moors. She has no memory of who she is or how she got there. But she can remember how to help a woman in labour and how to expertly dress a wound, and can speak fluent French. With the odds against her, a penniless single woman, she starts to build her life from scratch, using her skills to help other women around her. She finds a happy place in the world. Until tragedy strikes, and she must run for her life . . .

In London, Dr Borthwick lives a solitary life working as an accoucheur dealing with mothers and babies in the elegant homes of high society together with his midwife, and volunteering in the slums of the Devil’s Acre alongside a young widow, Eleanor Johnson. His professional reputation is spotless and he keeps his private life just as clean, isolating himself from any new acquaintances. But he is harbouring a dark secret from his past – one that threatens to spill over everything.

©2022 Tricia Cresswell (P)2022 Macmillan Publishers International Limited Genre Fiction Historical Medical Mystery Fiction Exciting Midwife

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Critic reviews

Amongst the many excellent entries for the Mslexia Novel Prize, this novel really stood out: a gripping and smartly executed double narrative full of surprises, with something serious to say about women's place in society and the strategies they employ to survive. (Louise Doughty, bestselling author of Apple Tree Yard)
A vivid, engrossing mystery about a woman who can’t remember her own identity but knows with certainty how to deliver babies. The authentic medical details form a compelling picture of the precariousness of life in the mid 19th century, when childbirth could prove fatal for even the fittest of women. I was hooked! (Gill Paul, bestselling author of The Secret Wife)
Atmospheric, haunting and intriguing. A compelling and beautifully written debut. (Tracy Rees, bestselling author of Amy Snow and The Rose Garden)
All stars
Most relevant  
A story with a twist I did not see coming! A real page turner and a real eye opener into the lives of working class women in the nineteenth century. Tricia Cresswell describes graphically the harsh realities of the time.

Excellent, Imaginative Story

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Overall I found this book to be an enjoyable read, I got slightly lost at times but it all became clear in the end. I found the ending came along very quickly which was a little underwhelming but overall it was a good read.

Enjoyable read

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As a heading, I originally wrote 'unique and extraordinary', but I realised that third word could imply a read so unusual that some might find it pretentious or difficult to read. It is neither. This is a wonderful piece of writing, very different. It will be one of those books saved, to be revisited at leisure. I didn't expect the ending; it wasn't the one that I assumed must be the case. It was totally absorbing, and I will be thinking of the main character for many days to come. It is one of those extraordinary books that leaves you sad that you've reached the end. It was narrated perfectly, so that after the first few chapters I forgot that this was one female voice I was listening to. So often narration can ruin what should be a captivating book, but this didn't intrude, it forgot itself and left the listener capable of stepping into the story and staying there to the end. Altogether, a wonderful book that I can't recommend strongly enough.

Unique and ...

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I rarely write reviews as it's just the views of one person and others may feel differently. But I have to say I thought this was a beautifully written book with much fascinating historical detail. I often felt moved and by the end was deeply attached to the characters and was sad to come to the end. The narration was also pitch perfect. I can't recommend it highly enough and will certainly be telling all my friends - especially those who are medics about it. We stand on the shoulders of giants. Thank you Tricia and I hope you keep writing!

What a fabulous book.

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the end was brief and was not as elaborated as the rest of the book.

story

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I don't usually write reviews but I thought this book deserved a comment from me.
One of the best books I have read. I felt as if I was there along side the characters and the only other time I've felt that was whilst reading C J Sansom.
I highly recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction and hope that Tricia Cresswell decides to write another book.

One of the best

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What a fabulous debut novel by Tricia Cresswell. It clearly had been well researched and hearing the truth behind the story in the epilogue was so very interesting.
I found it an absorbing listen, the description of poverty and that era so vivid in the minds eye.
This will be one of those books that stays with me for quite a long time.
Thank you for a fantastic novel and a brilliant narration, Kristin Atherton made the story come alive.

One that stays with you.

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I absolutely loved listening to this book. it captured my imagination right from the start. I loved the narration too, it was beautifully read. I couldn't wait to listen each day and I was so upset when it ended. I miss the characters.

Brilliant book!

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This novel is set in the north east of England and London in the early 1800s, and for sometime the link between the two harrowing but beautifully described scenes is unclear. The work of dedicated doctors and midwives working amongst the poorest in society, is described through characters who are strong and real- doing all they can to alleviate suffering and support new life, but with so little except their physical skills ,compassion and traditional wisdom
The challenges for a woman trying to push against the professional and personal barriers that constrained all ambition at that time is the theme that runs through this novel. But also a real world truth that is far from buried in the distant past
I absolutely loved this book not just because of all I learned about people’s lives and the delivery of medical services before any modern interventions, but also for the skill of the author in building the story and creating such strong and compassionate characters A really excellent first novel and I really look forward to more from this writer

A historical novel that makes you see and feel every event, and so much more

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Really well written characters and an interesting story. The plot didn’t go the way I expected.

Great structure with a surprising twist

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