The Midwife

Hannah Blau-Sokolow #1

by Gay Courter

Hannah Blau, a young midwife, is driven by a passion to help other women--from Russian noblewomen to prostitutes--bring their babies safely into the world. After surviving pogroms, she emigrates to America where midwives present an economic threat to the emerging specialty of obstetrics, but the greatest challenge Hannah faces is from three men--Stefan Petrograv, the brilliant Russian doctor; Lazar, a firebrand socialist; and Nathaniel Belinsky, a ruthless, virile businessman. Each loves her and tries to make her his own while she struggles to confront a hostile world that tests her vision of personal and professional happiness.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Jewish, Russia, Adult, Romance

521 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 1992

Reviews

[Gaile · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I have read about midwifery in the early part of the twentieth century.
Hannah is trained in Moscow but the Russian pogroms force her family to set sail for America.
There she finds a license to practice midwifery. Later she has legal problems about her ability to
practice. In the first years in America her husband earns very little and although Hannah often gets disgusted with him, they are always reconciled. The book ends somewhat up in the air. There is a sequel, The Midwife's Advice which I recommend.
When I was delivered of my children in a hospital they were still strapping women down. I remember getting in a fight with a nurse who wouldn't let me walk around. I was supposed to stay flat on my back and it took four nurses to make me get back in bed and stay there which is probably why my eldest is so strong willed!
In 2003, I witnessed the birth of my grandchild. Indeed we have come a LONG way!!!!

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I have read in a long time. This thirty year old, deeply detailed book is about a young Jewish midwife and her family. It begins while Hannah - the midwife who is way ahead of her time - is studying in Moscow, away from her parents and siblings and future husband, all home in Odessa. Living in Imperial Russia around the turn of the century was brutal for Jewish people and Courter does not hold back describing both the daily misery of harassment and bureaucratic persecution and the absolute horrors of the pogroms. It continues through their long and terrible journey in steerage to America and their life in the ghetto of the Lower East Side. I have read MANY historical fiction novels about the immigrant experience during this time period, but Courter's vivid descriptions and story-telling made this book almost impossible to put down. The Midwife also proved to be a very interesting story about childbirth, the vast changes in medical technology at the time, and much of the mis-information that even the best doctors had then, about the human body and medical treatments that we now know to be very wrong. Because so much of the first half of the story took place before they came to America, the book filled in many holes for me, despite having read so many books about similar families. Further, several characters are very involved in progressive socialist causes and the labor movement which, again, Courter does not skirt over but tells with so much knowledge that I kept looking things up to learn more. The characters are fully developed and each interesting and different but not all (if any) are entirely likeable. How each of their stories are intertwined and affects the other characters had me feeling like I was personally getting to know real people. Some of them face some very awful outcomes - but that was almost normal for them then. Life was extremely hard yet the book was not depressing. Very gripping. Looking forward to reading the follow up from Gay Courter, The Midwife's Advice.

[Bree (AnotherLookBook) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A historical novel about a young Jewish midwife in turn-of-the-century Russia and New York. 1981.

Full review (and other reading recommendations!) at Another look book

Well, THAT went fast. At about 560 pages, it still only took me three days! I think this is one of the better historical fiction sagas I have ever read, especially because I feel like I learned so much by reading it. It's also one of the few books I've finished and IMMEDIATELY wanted to dive into the sequel. Usually, I find I need a break, then maybe I end up forgetting about that second book and never get around to reading it. Not the case with this book. I am counting the days until I can get my hands on the sequel!

[June Guymon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A completely satisfying reading experience because the plot and characters were so engaging. I just ate up the perspective on Jewish culture and society with all of its crescendos and suspense. There’s also a romance element that really worked because it felt grounded in emotional truth. Loved it!

[Kathleen Nightingale]

Have read this book twice. Both times at the cottage. Was half through the second time then realized that indeed I had read the book before. Great history of New York.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A page-turner of a read, very well written. Begins with Book One “Russia”in 1904. The heroine, Hannah Blau has managed to attend Moscow’s famed Imperial College, under the quota limiting Jews, to obtain medical midwifery training. The story opens on her first delivery handled entirely on her own. Her skills and instincts and humanity result in great success, impressing her mentor professors. Recognizing that she almost has the training of a doctor, they soon encourage her to apply to med. school, which she eventually agrees to, though her greatest desire is to be a midwife.
Also crucial at the novel’s beginning is Hannah’s regular return to the luxurious home of her Moscow relatives to observe the Sabbath, lovingly portrayed from the perspective of the modest and pious women of the family, including Hannah, who genuinely fulfill or promise to fulfill the proverb about the unparalleled virtues of a virtuous wife.
Book Two recounts the violent events after her return to Odessa which culminated in her family's departure for America. Book Three portrays their life there, beginning in the lower East Side tenements. Again, much personal drama as well as the more public ones, well-told and conveying Hannah's strength of personality and professional skill amidst great hardship and disheartening set-backs. At the end Hannah is not the same reserved idealistic young woman she was sitting at her relatives’ Sabbath and Hanukkah tables, but she is still principled and full of humanity.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this novel when I was pregnant with my now 21-year old* and re-read it probably once along the way. I own, and re-read often, the sequel, "The Midwife's Advice." I was ready for a re-read, this novel is absolutely absorbing Historical Fiction with a good dose of interesting births for birth junkies like me. The only thing that keeps it from being a five star read is my dislike for some of the character's decisions.

I will be re-reading the second one soon, and keeping them both as they are definitely on my to re-read list.

*side note: I'm reading this, and my Dh says, "didn't you already read that?" the fact that he can remember a book I read 20+ years ago, and I can't remember the plot of a book I read at the beginning of the year amazes me.

[Kate Vale · Rating 4 out of 5]

How midwifery came to America in the guise of this Russian Jew is absorbing and filled with detail that brings to life her profession and how she must act when confronted by pogroms in her homeland, and the various women she attends, including prostitutes and noblewomen.

The descriptions of the Lower East Side tenements of nineteenth century and early twentieth-century New York are evocative even as they highlight how strong its residents had to be to survive in such a rough-and-tumble setting. Their contributions to what has become one of the most amazing cities is worthy of the strength the main character exhibits as she makes the most of her world even as her past haunts her.

[Caitlin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved the actual midwifery in this book, but it was very immoral and I ended up hating the main character.

*Spoiler Warning* She commits adultery - 3 times. How anyone can be that dishonest? She's married for heavens sake. And the author doesn't just say it. He describes it very graphically. I threw this book away.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book tells the story of a young Jewish woman from Russia, who is trained in midwifery. She emigrates to the U.S. With her new husband and other family members. Her life in NYC is chaotic and difficult, and she overcomes many problems..

[Rennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read many years ago. It's a fascinating story!

[Margaret Fisk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good book. It just kept you interested on every page and the characters were so alive!

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book. Well written, interesting, informative.

[Laura Willyard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read about early midwifes.

[Olivia Fortenberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes!

[Linda Kandel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Literally one of the worst written books I have read in a while. Jumped all over the place and none of it made any sense.. I hate read most of it

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Since having a baby of my own (with midwives, perhaps I should add) I have naturally become more interested in the subject. I got a sample of this book on my ereader which ended in the middle of a difficult birth, and I was intrigued enough to buy it to see how it played out. The actual births were the most interesting parts of the novel to me, but I found myself skimming through a lot of the rest of it.

The birth scenes are graphic enough to not be for those squeamish about such things. There is also tmi in the love scenes for my taste.

I think my biggest problem here was that I was expecting one kind of book and got another. I wanted to hear about how Hannah the Jewish midwife had to struggle to gain respect for her technique in Russian hospitals. I did not want to hear about her questionable life choices. Her Judaism was a lot more cultural than religious, too, which is fine but again, just not what I was expecting. I never really understood or liked Hannah based on her actions and I wouldn't recommend this book.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of things to like in this book (which make sense, as I've reread so often). Extensively researched and well written, peopled with flawed and struggling characters, set against backdrops more nuanced than many immigrant sagas. In this rereading I was reminded of just how successful The Midwife was in these aspects. Courter's research and knowledge of the era and of midwifery shines. I appreciated anew how her characters often make bad choices or give excuses or grapple with complex situations. The things I didn't like were minor annoyances: author's tendencies to use loose phonetic spellings for foreign words rather than their proper spellings, to occasionally go for a clumsy translation or description in dialogue rather than letting the reader guess from context, and to attempt to add romantic situations that didn't contribute to character or story (at least for this reader). But the successes outweigh the nits and I know there will be many more rereadings for me.

[Liz Rockstroh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up The Midwife because I read Flowers in the Blood by Courter and LOVED it. In The Midwife, Courter tells a story of a young girl aspiring to be a midwife. I love how much time and distance is covered in this book. The story follows the main character from medical school in Russia to starting with nothing in America. I appreciate that this novel isn't always a rosy story for the main character. There is a reality to the writing that gives the reader a real sense of the desperation, hope, and constant change in turn-of-the-century New York. It was also eye-opening to think of the world of midwifery in an age before modern hospitals and birthing practices. An interesting and thought-provoking read!

[Hannah ✨ScruffyCityReads✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this when I was looking for a Christmas gift for my mother-in-law as a book nurses should read.

The synopsis hooked me, but it was honestly more interesting to me than the plot of the book became. Most of the fascinating historical aspect of the book happens in the first quarter. After that it turns into pure romance with a little bit of medical knowledge sprinkled in.

Historic fiction with plots that depend solely on romance just aren't my personal jam. I was a lot more excited about reading about a Jewish woman who is also a medical student in Moscow than what the story ended up being about.

[HeavyReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

My mom was pretty open to letting me read whatever I wanted when I was a kid, so I was surprised when I tried to read her copy of this book and she wouldn't let me. She said I was too young to read it, that it wasn't appropriate for me. I waited for years to read this book and was pretty disappointed when I did. I think there was some sex, but not the explicit scenes I was expecting (and hoping for). Porn it is not. It's not even erotica. But yes, probably not appropriate even for an advanced ten or eleven-year-old kid.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just re-read this after many years. It's a wonderful example of great historical fiction: Jewish life in Russia in the early 20th century, the boat voyage to the USA, life for immigrants in NY, tenement living, economic struggle, political beliefs, etc. This is all told in an interesting story about a midwife, trained in Moscow, who decides to immigrate with her family after a devastating pogrom. There is great detailed characterization, vivid descriptions of the different locations, and a comprehensive picture of the class & economic divisions.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. The main character, Hannah, is a midwife in the early 1900's-the book follows her training and experiences and is just fascinating. I have no idea how historically accurate it is, but it covers the change from babies being delivered largely by female midwives to male doctors taking over. As a mother-it is fascinating to see how things come full circle. My daughter was born in a hospital but delivered by a midwife:)

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel will teach you about Jewish history and how they have been treated in Eastern Europe at the turn of the century. The main character, Hannah the midwife, and her family and friends come alive for the reader. The early certification and life of a midwife in America is also described interestingly. I would have to say I could not put this book down! It is an older book I found at my library.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading about being Jewish in Russia and in New York in the 1890s to the early 1920s. And I am always interested in reading books about midwifery and childbirth. However, it was a novel and had its shortcomings. Characterization was uneven and the end was simply too cut and dried and sudden. It's as if the author had a quota of pages to write and reached that place before the story really ended. All in all, though, it kept me reading steadily until I got to that disappointing ending.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book on many levels-story of a courageous Jewish immigrant from Moscow, details of the art and science of midwifery. The people and prejudice along with support of others and families and opposition of Doctors to her field--all very interesting. But the book peters out somewhere in the last third for me--not sure why, maybe just more of same. If it hadn't then I would have given it a 5 star rating. Would recommend to most anyone but I think it would interest women more.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Midwife by Gay Courter is an historical fiction set in 1900 in both Moscow and NYC. Hannah Blau is born in Russia and gets educated in the practice of helping women deliver babies safely. Her family is of Jewish descent and decides to the flees pogroms, and persecution and winds up in America with new problems and romances. This book is a good source for information about women’s issues, medical issues, and immigration issues.

[elissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

First read this 25+ years ago and I remember enjoying it tremendously. Some of the writing and ideas don't hold up and there are a few factual errors, but I found myself as engaged as the first time I read it. Certainly veers from the sanitized version of Jewish immigrant history and was a good read. Don't judge it by the cover, it is a book of historical fiction, not a romance, which was how it was packaged.

[Saskia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books with powerful, smart, strong women that change the world. And books that while doing this, also tell history of what things may have been like in other times, lands, etc. This one has a lot of Jewish names and words, reminded me of reading "The Chosen". I am going to read all her books.

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a book my mother was reading when she passed away in 1984. I don't think it is the one, however, very much enjoyed reading it. It is a good historical novel about midwifery, Russia, Jewish customs and early New York City. I may read the second one "The Midwife's Advice" and perhaps that will be the book for which I'm searching.