Die Hebamme

A magnificent portrait of a brave woman

Marta Kristine Andersdatter Nesje, the author's great-great-grandmother, walked 600 km from the west coast of Norway to Christiania in 1821 to become a midwife. She practiced her profession for fifty years at the Romsdalfjord, persistently pursuing her goal of helping women, all while battling distrust and poverty. Edvard Hoem brings Marta Kristine to life with immense poetic power. He sensitively narrates her deep love for Hans, her daily life with eleven children, and the countless midwifery journeys across the fjord. The depiction of an entire era, a landscape, and especially the midwifery profession from two hundred years ago emerges atmospherically and in rich detail. The simplicity of this life and the characters' confidence resonate with us particularly today.