Marilyn (recuperating from hip replacement surgery's Reviews > The Frozen River

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon was inspired by the real events that marked the life of Martha Ballard, wife, mother, midwife, healer and friend. Before reading The Frozen River, I had never heard of Martha Ballard even though she was the great aunt of Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross and the great, great grandmother of Mary Hobart, one of the first female physicians. Much of what Ariel Lawhon was able to glean about Martha Ballard’s duties as a midwife and healer and her day to day life came from the diary or day book she kept and wrote in on a daily basis. Each diary entry began with an account of the weather and an unbiased report of what had transpired that day. The Frozen River was Martha Ballard’s story and her search for the truth. It took place during the winter in Hallowell, Maine in 1789, post American Revolution. I listened to the audiobook of The Frozen River that was well narrated by Jane Oppenheimer. It was hard to pull myself away from this captivating historical fiction mystery.

Ariel Lawhon was able to paint such a vivid picture of both the landscape of Hallowell, Maine and of Martha Ballard through her beautiful well written prose. Her vivid descriptions of the farm where Martha lived with her husband and children, the women she visited and assisted with their births, the frozen Kennebec River that served the town for generations as a source for commerce and all the eateries and shops made it easy for me to visualize and almost feel like I was right there beside her. In 1789, women were considered inferior to men. Women were strictly restricted from learning to read and write, take part independently in civil functions or do anything more than marry, have children and keep house. Based on all the restrictions and ridicule women faced, I was so impressed by all Martha Ballard was able to accomplish in her lifetime. Martha was a woman who was so far ahead of the time she lived in. She was strong, determined, level headed, systematic, intelligent, truthful, knowledgeable and confident. Martha was a woman who advocated for other women, justice and the truth. Martha had the kind of marriage that many women would want to clone. Her husband was so supportive, attentive and so in love with her. Life back the was not easy especially for women.
The penalties that were handed down to women during that time for rape or having a child out of wedlock carried significant consequences whereas men were never punished for those offenses. There were so many more consequences for women back then compared to the men and there was little the women could do to change it. Through all of these occurrences, it was hard not to admire Martha’s courage, gumption, determination, intellect and the way she went to bat for the women she cared about. Martha Ballard never gave up searching for the truth and helping the innocent.

I really enjoyed listening to The Frozen River. Ariel Lawhon expertly wove together the mystery of how, when and why the dead man that was discovered in the Kennebec River ended up there with Martha’s daily duties as a midwife, mother and wife as well as the difficulties and hardships she faced. Had the man found in the Kennebec River drowned or had someone murdered him and disposed of him there? Martha Ballard was sure he was murdered but who committed the crime? Even when challenged, Martha never wavered from her initial findings and declaration of murder. The Frozen River explored the non-existent possibilities of literacy for women, love, child birth, rape, murder, family, friendships and the hardships and limitations women experienced, endured and learned to accept. I really admired Martha Ballard and everything she stood for and accomplished in her lifetime. I highly recommend The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon.