Eve: Sex, Childbirth and Motherhood Through the Ages

by Petrina Brown

"To relieve sore breasts, drink mouse dung diluted with rainwater and ass's milk". In Eve, Petrina Brown explores the changing facets of sex and relationships; the influence of religion and folklore; the changing role of the midwife; and the development of medical intervention in the birthing process. A natural storyteller, she has researched customs and ceremonies from around the world, revealing extraordinary fertility, contraception and abortion practices both modern and ancient. Eve is an insightful and compelling journey through social history; from prehistorical Egypt and Mesopotamia, travelling through ancient Greece and the Roman Empire, taking in the Middle Ages and ending in the present day. Royalties will go to Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Sexuality, Feminism

Hardcover

First published January 29, 2007

Reviews

[Sarah Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great history of childbirth.

[Eve O'C · Rating 5 out of 5]

fascinating

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty gruesome descriptions of the tiral and tribulations of women through the ages (about 200 BCE - 21st century) regarding their social role as progenitors of the human species.

Gruesome details include Cesearean Sections during Medevil times without proper sanitation, medical tools, or even anesthetics.. One description about sawing through the pelvic bone to create more room in the birthing canal, leaving the mother paralized if she survived. Strict religious rules requiring women undergo pregnancy, no matter the complications, without any relief of pain, often resulting to the exhaustion and death of mother and child.

I thought the book was informative, however it was very repetitive. The book was a veryquick read (I read in two days) and could have potentially been made even shorter without the excessive repetition of information that was used as 'filler'.

Still, anyone wanting to cringe and 'thank g-d' that we have made the medical and social advencements we have regarding women and childbirth, should read this book.

[Molly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, it was a struggle to finish reading this book. It was very academic and dry, and I found the organizing structure difficult to read. I was really looking forward to reading it - I love the subject matter! - but it took a lot of effort to finish it (and even that was skimming).

[Ellie Monks · Rating 2 out of 5]

For all that this book was published in 2004, it sings with second wave feminism. That being said, it's a very detailed and informative introduction to the different ideas of childbirth in both the medieval and Early Modern/Tudor/Stuart time periods.