The Birth House: A Novel
The Birth House: A Novel by Ami McKay, published by William Morrow on August 22, 2006, is a historical fiction work that spans 400 pages. This debut novel presents a portrait of women’s struggles to maintain control over their bodies while navigating the complexities of modern medicine. The narrative follows Dora Rare, the first daughter in five generations of Rares, as she trains under the Acadian midwife Miss Babineau in a remote Nova Scotian village.
Readers will find Dora assisting women through various challenges, including infertility and difficult labors, during the tumultuous World War I era. The arrival of a new medical doctor introduces themes of progress and change, prompting Dora to advocate for women’s rights and the traditional knowledge she has inherited. The Birth House explores the intersection of tradition and science, as well as the dynamics of matriarchy and paternalism, making it a relevant exploration of women’s roles in society.
Official synopsis Publisher
In this breathtaking debut novel, Ami McKay has created an unforgettable portrait of the struggles that women have faced to control their own bodies and to keep the best parts of tradition alive in the world of modern medicine.
The Birth House is the story of Dora Rare—the first daughter in five generations of Rares. As apprentice to the outspoken Acadian midwife Miss Babineau, Dora learns to assist the women of an isolated Nova Scotian village through infertility, difficult labors, breech births, unwanted pregnancies, and even unfulfilling sex lives. During the turbulent World War I era, uncertainty and upheaval accompany the arrival of a brash new medical doctor and his promises of progress and fast, painless childbirth. Dora soon finds herself fighting to protect the rights of women as well as the wisdom that has been put into her care.
A tale of tradition and science, matriarchy and paternalism, past and future, The Birth House is “a dazzling first novel.” (Library Journal), and a story more timely than ever.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “The Birth House: A Novel” about?
Who is the author of “The Birth House: A Novel”?
When was “The Birth House: A Novel” published?
What is the ISBN for “The Birth House: A Novel”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
