The Harem Midwife: A Novel

Roberta Rich's debut novel, The Midwife of Venice, was 'richly' received by reading audiences everywhere. I really enjoyed it (my review) and remember writing at the end of my review..." it ended too soon! But it looks like a sequel is in the works - I'll be picking it up for sure."

Well, that sequel - The Harem Midwife - is here. It's just as good as the first book and provided a lovely Sunday afternoon's read for me.

1578. Hannah and her husband Isaac have fled Venice and made a life for themselves in Constantinople. Hannah is a talented midwife and her skills have been noticed by the palace of Sultan Murat III. She is called to ascertain the purity of a new girl purchased for the harem. But Hannah feels pity for the young woman and show more lies. Will that lie be revealed and threaten everything Hannah and Isaac have together? Or will the threat come from a 'family' member with their own devious agenda?

I like historical fiction, but don't usually go this far back. However, Roberta Rich has changed my mind. She slowly and lavishly paints her settings with the sounds and sights of time and place vividly described. I learned so much from the details woven into her tale - not just of the Ottoman Empire, but of midwifery and Jewish life and customs.

Hannah is a great lead character - warm, caring and yes, fallible - and the reader becomes invested in her life. The love for her husband and depiction of their home life made her even more 'real.' I did question her lying to the palace and her friends' willingness to go along with her seemingly foolhardy plan, but this only added to the wonderful mix of history, suspense and romance Rich has again woven. Here's hoping there's a third book in the works! show less

When I finished The Midwife of Venice I really wanted to know more about Hannah and Isaac and I was delighted when I learned Roberta Rich was working on another book about them. Now, thanks to my friend Susan, I have read the next installment in their life and I sure hope that there is another book to follow.

Hannah and Isaac have settled in Constantinople which gives greater freedoms to Jewish citizens than Venice did. Isaac has his own silk business and Hannah continues to work as a midwife. She has found favour with the Sultan's mother, the Valide, and is the midwife of choice for the harem. Unfortunately there are no babies being born because the Sultan is transfixed by his wife, Safiye, and will not lie with any other woman. The show more Valide has found a young slave girl from the Circassian Mountains who she hopes will awaken the Sultan's desires. But first she wants Hannah to certify she is a virgin. The girl, Leah, is the sole remnant of a small Jewish village that was destroyed by Yuruk tribesmen. Hannah feels sorry for Leah and when Leah begs her to tell the Valide that she is a virgin even though she is not Hannah does so, knowing she is risking her life, Leah's and her family's. Other troubles arrive in the person of Isaac's brother's widow who comes to claim the loan her husband made to Isaac because it was from her dowry. Isaac's business is doing poorly and he cannot repay the loan. When they go to the rabbi to try to reach some compromise the rabbi tells Isaac that under Talmudic law he must take his sister-in-law as his wife. Although that would solve the issue of the loan neither Isaac nor Hannah want this.

Before these issues are resolved we learn a great deal about harems, concubines, childbirth, silk weaving and the Ottoman Empire. Interesting stuff and a good read. show less

Read the "Midwife of Venice" first. "The Harem Midwife" talks about Jewish life in the Turkish Empire, which is interesting. But in the end, I was disappointed that all of the midwife's problems were resolved much to easily. This gave the book a "not quite true" quality.

The sequel to the Midwife of Venice, this book follows Hannah and Isaac to Constantinople. Hannah becomes midwife to the Imperial Harem, as is called upon to verify the virginity of Leah, a Jewish maiden. Hearing Leah's tragic story, Hannah lies, telling the sultan's mother that the girl is intact. When Hannah discovers that Leah is four months pregnant, she scrambles to save the girl's life.

This was an excellent book, I read it in one night. The characters continue to intrigue with the realism. I would love to read more from this author and hope another sequel is in the works!

This is one of the first books I read about historical Istanbul, and I really enjoyed it. The characters were real and relatable, and I teared up when the concubine died.

Beautifully written. Vivid descriptions.

This story takes place in Constantinople in the 1600s during the reign of of one of the Sultans. Hannah is e midwife to the palace and to the sultan's harem.
I thought this might be an interesting book and it started well but it got ordinary and predictable halfway through.
Not recommended.