The Midwife of Venice by Roberta Rich takes the reader deep into the sights and smells of 16th century Venice. I’m not entirely sure that is a good thing, as it was so real I could almost smell all the filth brought to life in these pages.

Through much research, Rich has created a highly imaginative story of a Jewish midwife, who breaks the law by delivering a Christian baby and has to flee for her life, while escaping the plague and trying to reunite with her husband who has been sold into slavery. Although it sounds like a grim tale, it is really a love story.

I loved the main character Hannah, a talented and dedicated midwife who very well may have existed. Rich does a wonderful job exploring the complex lives of women of this time. If you like historical fiction as I do, then you will find this book a worthwhile read.