- This topic has 14 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 3 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
-
If so, did it change your evaluation of Martha’s life and the story of the “year of the long winter?” What did you think about the author’s solution to the gross injustice of Rebecca Foster’s assault considering the fact that the real Joseph North walked away scot-free? How would you have handled justice and revenge, if you were in the author’s position?
-
When I read historical fiction, I usually read the author’s note or historical note at the end of the book first, then the book, followed by a rereading of the author’s or historical note. But in this case, I followed the author’s instruction to read the book first. I enjoyed the author’s description of the fifteen year journey in the creation of TFR. The fact that the story is inspired by real events rather than being based upon them does not change my opinion of the book. I think many historical fiction writers manipulate facts or condense the time frame to create a better cohesive story. Martha, if living, might even say that this story is better than her life, since the line she wrote so often in her journaling is “I have been at home.” I enjoyed the “real life” updates about Martha’s children. I also enjoyed the genealogical connections between Martha Ballard and the foundress of the American Red Cross and the first female physician in the US. I am amazed at Martha’s life and all “the small acts, done in love” which “matter every bit as much as the ones that make the newspaper and the history books.”
-
Reading the author’s note actually made me appreciate Martha’s life even more. Knowing that many of the people and elements in the story were actually factual impressed me. I was even more impressed by Martha when I learned that she delivered babies of the Black families living in Hallowell. I would have liked it if Lawthon had actually added that to the story. I found it a surprising fact and one that I thought would have added an extra layer of depth and bravery to Martha’s story.
Like Nancy, I also loved learning that Martha’s roots in medicine reached down generations in her family. That she is the great aunt of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, and great-great-grandma of Mary Hobart, one of the first female physicians in the US, is remarkable. It also shows the powerful impact that education has in a family, something we all have highlighted throughout the discussion.
-
I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s note. The manner in which Ariel incorporated the factual information about Martha and that era with her characters and plot line made the book a very engaging read.I particularly enjoyed learning which of the characters were real and what their lives were actually like. Learning more about Martha’s lineage was a plus and reminded me of a series of books I read as a child about Clara Barton and other famous women in American History.
-
I read both the author’s note and, inspired by that, Ulrich’s “A Midwife’s Tale.” Like Tara, I believe they added to my appreciation of Martha, her family and the times in which they lived. Ariel Lawhon truly captured the essential spirit and qualities of the people and that period of time. The changes Lawhon made to write a novel rather than rewriting Martha’s biography did not detract from any of the core elements of Martha’s life and work.
“The Frozen River” raises some challenging questions about justice and revenge, not the least by Martha referring to the knife she ultimately uses to amputate Joseph North’s penis by that name. Given that Martha is literally defending herself from a man who expressly intends to do to her exactly what he was acquitted from doing to Rebecca Foster, this conclusion looks more like a form of justice, albeit outside of any justice system. Still, Martha makes clear that her intention was not only to defend herself but to punish North in a very specific way connected to the crime of rape. The author’s solution represents some of both, but set in the context of the time and its judicial system, one that seems fitting.
-
Yes, I read the author’s note, and was fascinated. I am always fascinated by truth vs. fiction, and if the subject is interesting to me, I get so much more fulfillment and “double entertainment” if I compare the two. In this case, the notes spurred my interest to then read The Midwife’s Tale, which Jane B. had so thoughtfully mentioned, and I also followed up on the posting that had mentioned the American Experience video that had been based on that book. That extra knowledge helped me put things in perspective— I was better able to see Lawhorn’s fictional choices and appreciate her creativity while also being more grounded in reality.
In the case of Judge North, it seemed to me that “real” history couldn’t definitively prove that was he was guilty. The evidence wasn’t as compelling as AL’s story might lead one to believe. For one thing, there was no physical evidence or witnessing provided by Martha that might have helped prove the case. The notations in her diary didn’t point to anything in particular; just mentioned when she saw Rebecca, with no description of physical damage, and the vague wording that the distraught woman had used when she did talk to her about her recent experiences. Apparently, according to her statement to the court, she hadn’t been gang raped on one night, but had instead been visited on 3 different nights in one week and raped by 3 different men, the last being North. And she never brought herself to use the word “rape,” but instead said that she “couldn’t have been treated worse” or something to that effect (correct me if I get any details wrong, Jane, as I listened to this on audiobook and didn’t get a chance to really pour over the material). She did end up pregnant at around that time; too bad DNA testing wasn’t available back then. If you read between the lines, you could conjecture that she was indeed telling the truth; but somebody else could argue that she wasn’t; so just like in TFR, the real truth is lost. She and her husband did leave town; he ended up an alcoholic and died impoverished. Rebecca’s mental status was questionable; and she and her son went off to Peru and were never heard from again!
If I were an author like AL, I think that reality would have been an interesting choice in telling this story, but wouldn’t have had the cohesiveness that was ultimately created in TFR. AL’s solution brought the story together; there was a proven villain who received a strong comeuppance, a wronged victim was in some way avenged, and healing was perhaps initiated. The narrative was able to stay focused on the theme of Martha and the strength and resilience of the women of that era without straying into too much extra territory. The reality of the situation was so much messier, with no tidy ending to it. I do think, though, that a fictional account of Rebecca’s life and experiences, with her as the protagonist and based on the real history, would be compelling reading!-
Susan, my read of “A Midwife’s Tale” and the details of Rebecca’s rape (actually as you note correctly “rapes”) are the same. I think Rebecca’s account was always going to be called into question, not only because North was a prominent and respected man in Hallowell, but because any woman’s account was going to be questioned as is still the case today. If I recall from TFR, she waited almost 10 days from the event to even confide in Martha. That, I think, reflects a powerful initial reaction of many women who are raped, an initial reaction of denial. The tools we have today, DNA testing, rape kits, SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) nurses who collect physical evidence, support the woman and provide prophylactic treatment to prevent pregnancy and most STIs, obviously did not exist then. And still, the trauma of the rape itself is relived at each step.
I agree that Arial Lawhon’s use of the diary to create compelling reading is masterful.
-
Thank you for sharing these details Susan. It’s sad to learn that Rebecca and her husband never really recovered from the incident. And that she went to Peru in the 1700s alone with her son – there’s another novel there! You are right that real life is much messier than fiction, and yet like you I think AL did a wonderful job of bringing forth the essence of the people living in Hallowell.
-
-
I liked learning about Ariel Lawhon’s source material and what she did creatively to “birth” the book. Sally Pierce and Jonathan’s story struck me as a bit fanciful in parts, so I was interested to learn that their story was based in fact, And I was sad about Cyrus, that he never married. I wonder why that was. Was he mute like AL imagines, or was there something else about him that led to his isolation? But it’s nice to know that Martha was happily surrounded by so many grandchildren – 29! – after the loss of her three children. I wonder how many of her grandchildren she might have helped deliver out of the over one thousand she ushered into the world.
-
Maureen, according to The Midwife’s Tale, there’s no documentation that Cyrus had any particular disabilities, though the author did wonder if he had been somehow affected by the diphtheria that took his sisters. As to Martha’s delivery of her grandchildren, I don’t recall how many she attended, but I do know it was several!
-
Cyrus remains an enigma. I have lost track of where I read what details, but I think he is widely expected to have some disability although it is unclear what that might have been. He is noted to have been quite outside of norms of the time in that he never married. I believe it is Ulrich’s biography that notes he moved in and out of his parents’ home and had trouble keeping a job. In the biography, it is Jonathan who ultimately takes over the home of his parents, not Cyrus.
I was curious about whether there was any objective evidence that a long term effect of Diphtheria infection could involve the vocal cords. I have not found any specific evidence to support that, so I would consider that as an explanation for Cyrus’ muteness as part of AL’s creation of this story. Diphtheria can involve the larynx and almost certainly did for Cyrus given how ill he was described as being. And, the toxin can cause nerve damage including to the cranial nerves, some of which control speech. So, it seems like a plausible explanation in TFR. But no sources I could locate report long term vocal cord paralysis from following diphtheria infection.
-
Love that you did this research Jane! I also appreciate the added insights both you and Susan bring to the group with the additional reading of The Midwife’s Tale, and Susan, your watch of the American Experience video. After reading the author’s note, I agree that The Frozen River was brilliant in its interpretation and reimagining of the Ulrich’s biography of actual events and what can be gleaned from Martha’s diary.
-
Thank you Jane. I do wonder if he possibly suffered any brain damage from it as well, which would account for him not being able to hold down a steady job. Ultimately, we’ll never know and I was satisfied by AL’s explanation because it served the story well. The fictional and real Cyrus was lucky to have a family who took care of and looked out for him.
-
-
Thank you, Susan. It would have been a shame for Martha’s daughters to not take advantage of their mother’s vast experience in midwifery so I am glad to hear she attended on some.
-
-
-
I loved the author’s note and appreciate how the author created an excellent story from Martha’s diary. I am also amazed that Martha’s family took the care to ensure that her diaries survived through the centuries. I can just imagine how many precious items have been lost after belongings are inherited by others.
-
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.