I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’m a history buff. I love reading historical biographies and learning all I can about times long gone. However, historical fiction is a genre I’ve barely scratched the surface of. I just don’t find myself particularly drawn to historical fiction books, but I may soon be changing my tune thanks to “The Midwife of Venice.”
The novel is set in 16th century Venice and features Hannah Levi, a notoriously skilled, Jewish midwife, as our main character. Hannah lives in Ghetto Nuevo, the Jewish ghetto in Venice. One evening, she is approached by a Christian count to assist in his wife’s delivery. He must bear an heir soon or else his entire inheritance will be lost to his two brothers. Hannah initially turns him down; after all, it is illegal for Jews to supply medical assistance to Christians. Her rabbi is also fierce in discouraging Hannah – if the birth goes awry, the whole ghetto will be persecuted. Hannah demands two hundred ducats as her fee, thinking that the man wouldn’t possibly agree, but he does.
She realizes that she cannot pass up an opportunity such as this, especially when the sum will be enough to free her husband, Isaac, from slavery in Malta. Hannah agrees to assist and is quickly taken to the Conte’s palace. Meanwhile, Issac is in Malta and being sold into slavery. Luckily, he manages to convince his master to let him sell his writing skills in the market. You see, in those times it was rare to be able to read and write and a slave with those commodities was a good purchase. Isaac keeps himself alive and away from the harsh labor of working the ports, all while trying to arrange for his escape from Malta and back to Hannah.
Reality Shows We Miss
Comedy is So In This Season
New Round of Shops at Target!
Unscripted With MIB 3
Most Controversial Comedies
