The Midwives of Seventeenth-Century London
The Midwives of Seventeenth-Century London
£40.00
GBPThis book is a comprehensive and detailed study of early modern midwives in seventeenth-century London. Until quite recently, midwives, as a group, have been dismissed by historians as being inadequately educated and trained for the task of child delivery. The Midwives of Seventeenth-Century London rejects these claims by exploring the midwives' training and their licensing in an unofficial apprenticeship by the Church. Dr Evenden also offers an accurate depiction of the midwives in their socioeconomic context by examining a wide range of seventeenth-century sources. This expansive study not only recovers the names of almost one thousand women who worked as midwives in the twelve London parishes, but also brings to light details about their spouses, their families and their associates.
- Examines the unofficial apprenticeship and subsequent licensing of midwives by the Church
- Original in concept and execution
- Examines a wide range of seventeenth-century sources
Reviews & endorsements
'This carefully crafted book presents the reader with page after page of impeccably researched detail which brings to life the hard-working and often clever and well-reputed midwives of seventeenth-century London. This book is a must not only for scholars working on the history of midwifery and childbirth, but is also essential reading for all those with an interest in early modern women's lives and work.' Hilary Marland, University of Warwick
'The amount and variety of archival material the author worked through is undoubtedly impressive. And it is precisely her use of archival data as opposed to contemporary accounts and printed sources that makes Evenden's work so original.' Medical History
Product details
November 2006Paperback
9780521027854
280 pages
228 × 152 × 15 mm
0.415kg
1 b/w illus. 12 tables
Available
Table of Contents
- List of tables and figures
- Acknowledgements
- List of abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1. Ecclesiastical licensing of midwives
- 2. Pre-licensed experience
- 3. Mothers and midwives
- 4. A social and economic profile of London midwives
- 5. Midwives of twelve London parishes: a socioeconomic case study
- Conclusion
- Epilogue
- Appendices
- Bibliography
- Index.
