The Gossips’ Choice by Sara Read
Lucie Smith is a respected midwife who is married to Jacob, the town apothecary. They live happily together at the shop with the sign of the Three Doves.
But sixteen-sixty-five proves a troublesome year for the couple. Lucie is called to a birth at the local Manor House and Jacob objects to her involvement with their former opponents in the English Civil Wars. Their only-surviving son Simon flees plague-ridden London for his country hometown, only to argue with his father. Lucie also has to manage her husband’s fury at the news of their loyal housemaid’s unplanned pregnancy and its repercussions.
The year draws to a close with the first-ever accusation of malpractice against Lucie, which could see her lose her midwifery licence, or even face ex-communication.
Dr Sara Read is a lecturer in English at Loughborough University. Her research is in the cultural representations of women, bodies and health in the early modern era.
She has published widely in this area with her first book Menstruation and the Female Body in Early Modern England being published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2013.
She is a member of the organising committee of the Women's Studies Group, 1558-1837 and recently co-edited a special collection produced to celebrate the group's 30th anniversary.
She is also the co-editor of the popular Early Modern Medicine blog. With founding editor Dr Jennifer Evans, Sara wrote a book about health and disease in this era Maladies and Medicine: Exploring Health and Healing, 1540-1740 (Pen and Sword 2017).
Sara regularly writes for history magazines such as Discover Your Ancestors and History Today. In 2017 she published an article 'My Ancestor was a Midwife' tracing the history of the midwifery profession for Who Do You Think You Are? magazine in 2017. She has appeared on BBC Radio 3's Freethinking programme and is often to be heard on BBC Radio Leicester and BBC Radio WM.
Follow Sara on Twitter @saralread
Review
This is an outstanding piece of historical fiction. I’m actually in awe of how good it was. Impeccably researched, not just the medical aspects but the social realities of the mid 17th century. It had vibrancy and colour, amazingly strong and independent female characters, as well as being highly compelling. This novel deserves to be shouted about and get more recognition than it has done. Go buy it now!
The book is one of two halves for me - the first showing Lucie and Mary going about their business as midwives during the 1600s. The second half is where Lucie is accused of not looking after her patient and has to stand ‘trial’ for it. The only criticism I have is I would have liked the accusation to have come in a bit earlier. Only for it to be developed more into the story but when a novel is this good its not a surprise that I want more of it.
I found the work of Lucie, Mary and Jacob fascinating. It was so vivid and technical. It’s clear Sara knows her stuff about this topic. This is what I love about historical fiction is you can learn from it. I didn’t know the term quickened and I have just taught my pregnant friend it! I love to pass on random knowledge like this. History is an important subject and books like this one opens up new areas which people will probably have never thought about before. Yes it’s an enjoyable read but it’s built upon a strong foundation of knowledge and research which is passed onto the reader. I think Call The Midwife should do a special on this era!!
The characters in this novel are so well written. I want Lucie to be related to me somehow. All the female characters were extremely well rounded strong individuals. Especially in this historical setting as Lucie is extremely well educated for her ‘station’ and has a very determined vocation for her work. The parts with Martha were also a section of the book which I really enjoyed as I can a) totally see that happening and b) can see Jacobs reaction as being realistic and true. I’m truly glad that Sara made her female characters so vibrant as it has allowed this book to shine.
I seriously want to gush about this book but if I do anymore then I will spoil it. All I’m saying is that it was a surprise when a coach ride highlights a narrative arc you are totally not expecting and hurrah as this area shouldn’t be ignored no matter what era a book is set in!
As I said above, go buy this book as it’s amazing!!!
