The Mysteries of Montreal

Memoirs of a Midwife by Charlotte Fuhrer

Edited by Peter Ward
Publisher: UBC Press
Ebook (EPUB) : 9780774843355, 170 pages, November 2011
Ebook (PDF) : 9780774857635, 170 pages, January 1984

Table of contents

Introduction

I. Early Life and Professional Struggles

II. A Just Retribution

III. The Rag Baby

IV. A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

V. Among the Fenians

VI. A Disciple of Satan

VII. The Frail Shop Girl

VIII. The Two Orphans

IX. A Tale of Two Cities

X. A Blighted Life

XI. The Mother-in-Law

XII. A Deserted Wife, or Model Woman

XIII. A Tale of Bigamy

XIV. The Unfortunate Sailor

Description

Originally published in 1881, The Mysteries of Montreal is
fully reprinted with an introduction by Peter Ward. Ward illuminates
the life of Fuhrer and of midwives in Victorian Canada. He traces the
role of the midwife through the ages and, placing Mrs. Fuhrer in the
context of her times, discusses birth practices in a Canadian setting.
As well, he examines the memoirs as a form of Canadian literature,
assessing their reflections on 19th century society. As a result the
book operates on more than one level. It is not only a midwife's
recollections, but also an assemblage of gossip, moral tales, stories
of courtship and birth practices, and even mild pornography.