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About This Book
ISBN13: 9780375706776 |
Synopses & Reviews
Publisher Comments:
With a suspense, lyricism, and moral complexity that recall To Kill a Mockingbird and Presumed Innocent, this compulsively readable novel explores what happens when a woman who has devoted herself to ushering life into the world finds herself charged with responsibility in a patient's tragic death.
The time is 1981, and Sibyl Danforth has been a dedicated midwife in the rural community of Reddington, Vermont, for fifteen years. But one treacherous winter night, in a house isolated by icy roads and failed telephone lines, Sibyl takes desperate measures to save a baby's life. She performs an emergency Caesarean section on its mother, who appears to have died in labor. But what if--as Sibyl's assistant later charges--the patient wasn't already dead, and it was Sibyl who inadvertently killed her?
As recounted by Sibyl's precocious fourteen-year-old daughter, Connie, the ensuing trial bears the earmarks of a witch hunt except for the fact that all its participants are acting from the highest motives--and the defendant increasingly appears to be guilty. As Sibyl Danforth faces the antagonism of the law, the hostility of traditional doctors, and the accusations of her own conscience, Midwives engages, moves, and transfixes us as only the very best novels ever do.
Synopsis:
About the Author
What Our Readers Are Saying
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Average customer rating based on 2 comments:
-
Jeane, March 16, 2008 (view all comments by Jeane)
Connie Danforth tells the story of her mother- a midwife who is on trial for murdering a patient. During a difficult delivery on a freezing winter night in an isolated farmhouse, Sibyl Danforth made a desperate decision to save the baby's life, when she thought the mother had died of a sudden stroke. But what if she'd been wrong? Through Connie's eyes we see Sibyl struggle to keep her life from unraveling under the ensuing onslaught of hostility from traditional doctors, men of the law, neighbors and friends alike. Supported by other midwives, Sibyl stands by her decision and defends her occupation, even as she is plagued with disapproval and her own doubt and guilt. Midwives deals with a very controversial issue and winds up in a courtroom. It seemed a bit sensationalized, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. The kind of book that you really can't put down.
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Deborah Fochler, October 31, 2006 (view all comments by Deborah Fochler)
A cant put down story. A midwive finds herself in a horrible situation - a young mother apparently dies during childbirth and she decides to save the baby. Then finds herself accused of murder. She is horrified by what has happened and yearns to find a resolution
and protect her own family. the book left me with mixed emotions - but mainly sadness. For the young woman who died and her loved ones but also for the midwife. Who only wanted to help and finds herself about to lose her own life. A real page turner. Also
extremely thoughtprovoking.
View all 2 comments
Product Details
- ISBN:
- 9780375706776
- Author:
- Publisher:
- Vintage Books USA
- Author:
- Author:
- Location:
- New York :
- Subject:
- General
- Subject:
- Literary
- Subject:
- Fiction
- Subject:
- Midwifery
- Subject:
- Legal
- Subject:
- Trials
- Subject:
- Vermont
- Subject:
- Legal stories
- Subject:
- Medical novels
- Subject:
- Vermont Fiction.
- Copyright:
- c199
- Edition Description:
- Paperback
- Series:
- Oprah's Book Club (Paperback)
- Publication Date:
- November 1998
- Binding:
- Paperback
- Language:
- English
- Illustrations:
- Yes
- Pages:
- 384
- Dimensions:
- 8.01x5.22x.87 in. .70 lbs.
