Once a Midwife - Large Print by Patricia Harman (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

It's "Call the Midwife" set in the U.S. homefront during World War II. If you loved Patricia Harman's Midwife of Hope River you'll love Once a Midwife!

Named Best Midwife Book of the Year from the American College of Nurse Midwives

The women of Hope River trust midwife Patience Hester, whose skill in delivering babies is known for miles around. But though the Great Depression is behind them, troubles are not, for Europe is at war...and it can only be a matter of time before the U.S. enters the fray.

And while some are eager to join the fight, Patience's husband, Daniel, is not. Daniel is a patriot--but he saw too much bloodshed during the First World War, and has vowed never to take up arms again.

His stance leaves Patience and their four children vulnerable--to the neighbors who might judge them, and to the government, who imprison Daniel for his beliefs.

Patience must support their family and fight for her husband's release despite her own misgivings. And with need greater than ever, she must also keep her practice running during this tumultuous time...relying on generous friends, like Bitsy, who has returned to Hope River, stalwart neighbors, and her own indomitable strength to see them all through.

From the Back Cover

The women of Hope River trust midwife Patience Hester, whose skill in delivering babies is known for miles around. Even with the Great Depression behind them, troubles are not, for Europe is at war . . . and it can only be a matter of time before the U.S. enters the fray.

And while some are eager to join the fight, Patience's husband, Daniel, is not. Daniel is a patriot--but he saw too much bloodshed during the first world war and has vowed never to take up arms again. His stance leads to swift punishment: the government imprisons Daniel for his beliefs.

Now, Patience must support their family, fight for her husband's release, and with need greater than ever, she must also keep her practice running during this tumultuous time. With generous friends like Bitsy, stalwart neighbors, and her own indomitable strength, Patience must see them all through the war.

Review Quotes

Praise for The Midwife of Hope River: "The Midwife of Hope River...is still on my mind days after finishing. From start to satisfying conclusion, it is a beautifully imagined novel, a marvel of a debut, rich with fully realized characters and events. This is one I'll read again, more slowly next time." - Johanna Moran, author of The Wives of Henry Oades
"If you could live inside a Norman Rockwell painting, Once a Midwife would be the place. Rockwell's themes--a nation under threat in wartime, the struggle for racial equality, and the consolation of family--they're all right here." - Jodi Daynard, Bestselling Author of The Midwife's Revolt
"Long after I turned the last page, the character of midwife Patience Hester stayed with me...For we all need role models like Patience--fiercely loyal, brave, and forgiving. Once a Midwife is a remarkable read, full of individuals to love and birth stories to inspire." - Amy Wright Glenn, author of Holding Space: on Loving, Dying, and Letting Go
"I almost devoured, Once a Midwife...It's not easy to write a novel that includes so many interwoven historical details, all the while keeping the reader's attention on the human story, the impact of outer events on people's lives and personal journeys. Patricia Harman did it so well." - Suzanne Arms, author of Immaculate Deception 11: Myth, Magic and Birth
"Patricia Harman...brings to life the impact of the First and Second World Wars upon the people of early 20th century rural America...True love, family, friendships, politics, history, nature, culture and babies. What more could a reader possibly want?" - Alicia Bay Laurel, New York Times bestselling author Living on the Earth
"As always when writing of birth, the bleakest of times can be transformed by the power and beauty of birth...the moments of joy between new parents and their baby, between the mothers and the midwife, and between the midwife and her young assistant, light up the pages. Amen baby!" - Penny Armstrong, CNM, author of A Midwife's Story and A Wise Birth
"Memoirist Harman (Arms Open Wide; The Blue Cotton Gown), herself a certified nurse-midwife, takes readers back to hardscrabble times and adds plenty of medical drama and a dash of romance, to offer an uncommonly good piece of American historical fiction." - Library Journal
"I learned, I laughed, I cried, but most of all I was deeply impressed by the artistry of the midwife and her central role in women's lives prior to the advent of commercialized, institutionalized medicine. This novel will live in my heart for years to come." - Amy Hill Hearth, author of Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society
"Midwives are warriors in this beautifully sweeping tale." - Kirkus