The Midwife of Venice by Roberta Rich is a fascinating look at 16th century Venice. The midwife is Jewish and the rules of the time forbid her caring for Christian women. A summons in the middle of the night causes her to do the forbidden. Meanwhile her beloved husband has been enslaved in Malta. Sarah wants to rescue Issac and Issac wishes to escape and go home to his wife and the Jewish ghetto of Venice. There is a sequel, which I wish ro read. A quick and easy read.My bone to pick is that she took some HUGE leaps into the unknowable while claiming this is historical fiction. Jewish ghetto midwife (of which she admits finding no info on such a woman even existed, but Jewish midwifes must have existed, which is true, but she is making it all up) invents forceps for delivery.Jewish ghetto midwife becomes friends with Christian comte and his wife after said midwife successfully delivers their son and saves both wife and mother. This was illegal for her to do.Jewish ghetto midwife understands the importance of handwashing.Jewish ghetto midwife has sister who became a Christian courtesan.So it is a quick and easy read with some Italian thrown in (which I can read, yay), and some accurate Venetian geography, and some accurate info on the amount of traveling that went on. But the main story is all just sooooo farfetched as to make it not so much "historical fiction" for me.
What do You think about The Midwife Of Venice (2011)?
Such a great story! I love historical fiction. Finished in 2 days~you just want to keep reading!
—28billy
Great summer read! well-written, good storyline but predictable ending.
—SherJ
