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The Midwife

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( 2,467 ratings, 245 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Midwife by Tricia Cresswell is set in 1830 on the Northumberland moors, where a mysterious woman is found alone and with no memory of her past. Despite amnesia, she retains expert midwifery skills and fluency in French, which she uses to rebuild her life and support other women. Meanwhile, in London, Dr Borthwick leads a solitary life as an accoucheur, with a dark secret that threatens to unravel both their worlds. This haunting historical fiction explores women's resilience and survival against the odds.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for readers of historical fiction who enjoy mysteries and strong female protagonists, especially those interested in 19th-century social history and women's experiences.

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A haunting and moving book club read with an unforgettable twist, The Midwife by Tricia Cresswell is perfect for fans of The Familiars and The Binding.

A haunting and moving book club read with an unforgettable twist, The Midwife by Tricia Cresswell is perfect for fans of The Familiars and The Binding.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

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

1830. 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, Mrs Bates, 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 pastβ€”one that threatens to spill over everything.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Acclaimed by Louise Doughty as a gripping and smartly executed double narrative, The Midwife offers sharp insights into women's societal roles. Gill Paul praises its authentic medical details and suspense, while Tracy Rees finds it atmospheric, haunting, and beautifully written – a compelling debut.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781529093681

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 17 February 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Mantle

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 27.0mm

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 233.0mm

Weight: 440g

Pages: 352

About the Author

Tricia Cresswell is a retired public health doctor. She temporarily returned to work in spring 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and now, in 2021, is volunteering as a vaccinator. She achieved a Distinction in her Creative Writing MA at Newcastle University in 2017. Creative response to the climate emergency has now taken priority in her writing, though, like everything, this has been disrupted by the pandemic.

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  • The Midwife
    A haunting and moving debut, The Midwife by Tricia Cresswell is perfect for fans of The Familiars and The Binding. 1830. 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...
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