The Midwives Book: Or the Whole Art of Midwifry Discovered

by Jane Sharp, Elaine Hobby (Editor), Susanne Woods (Foreword by)

When the midwife Jane Sharp wrote The Midwives Book in 1671, she became the first British woman to publish a midwifery manual. Drawing on works by her male contemporaries and weaving together medical information and lively anecdotes, she produces a book that is instructive, accessible, witty, and constantly surprising.

Genres: Medicine, History, Research

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

When the midwife Jane Sharp wrote The Midwives Book in 1671, she became the first British woman to publish a midwifery manual. Drawing on works by her male contemporaries and weaving together medical information and lively anecdotes, she produces a book that is instructive, accessible, witty, and constantly surprising.

Reviews

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know how to rate something like this, but it's one of the most intriguing primary sources I've ever read. Also, everyone should know who Jane Sharp was, and we should celebrate her.

[Ellie Monks · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the primary sources of my dissertation and an interesting read in itself.