The Tudor Queens’ Midwife by Brigitte Barnard – Book Review

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In the glittering, glamorous, and deadly court of King Henry VIII and his Queen Katherine of Aragon, the desperate desire for a healthy male heir overshadows all. With each heartbreaking miscarriage, the queen’s sense of duty and desperation deepen, her singular purpose clear; to secure a son for the English crown. Amidst this struggle, the queen turns to Sarah Menendez, a respected and highly skilled midwife. Sarah, exiled from her homeland, must serve the queen while concealing her true self. As Sarah strives to save Katherine from the perils of childbirth, the shadows of her own past threaten to unravel the carefully crafted identity Sarah has created for herself and her young daughter.

The Tudor Queens’ Midwife is a gripping tale of secrecy, sacrifice, and religious turmoil amongst the most opulent court the world has ever seen.

‘The Tudor Queens’ Midwife’ is a historical novel from the pen of Brigitte Barnard. In Part One, we meet Sarah, a widowed midwife of Spanish-Jewish descent who must keep her ancestry and faith a secret to protect herself and her daughter in sixteenth century England. It is written in the first person and the present tense.

The mistrust between Sarah and one of Queen Katherine’s ladies-in-waiting is intriguing. The fear of exposure felt by Sarah is tangible and this angle could potentially have been explored in greater depth. In Part Two, we join Sarah’s daughter, Emunah, (known to gentiles as Faith) as she steps into her mother’s shoes and finds she too must run the gauntlet of scrutiny.

I think the book would have benefitted from an additional edit to iron out a few issues in an otherwise interesting saga, told from an innovative perspective. However, it might be that I have reviewed an advance reading copy. I particularly enjoyed the sections devoted to Sarah and Emunah’s religious traditions and practices. I also appreciated their extensive knowledge of herbs and spices; this definitely added a dimension which clearly required a lot of homework on the part of the author.

Each chapter starts with a picture of a medicinal herb which lost a bit on the kindle but would no doubt work very well in a hard copy edition. Both narrators have strong characters and are extremely competent in their field of expertise.

The pace was a little uneven at times and I found the early stages rather repetitive. Some aspects of the story seemed rushed whilst others, arguably, were overly detailed. The author is a former midwife, so it is understandable that she has centred her book on birthing stories with the varying techniques needed to promote a safe delivery; hopefully, the title should be sufficient for readers to be aware of this.

From about halfway, the scope of the tale was extended and a much stronger plot developed, making for a thoroughly engaging read thereafter. I particularly liked the blend of fact and fiction as Emunah’s position of Royal Midwife to Her Majesty, Queen Katherine, takes her to the very heart of the court of Henry VIII and she encounters many historically significant figures of the time.

The scene-setting was evocative in places, helping to create an atmospheric feel. There is a glossary of terms at the back of the book which I found helpful. I think this story might primarily appeal a niche audience but others may well be drawn to the eye-catching cover. It ended rather abruptly but there is a tantalising taster of the next instalment. I wish the author every success with this and the other books in the series. I award four stars.

Brigitte Barnard is a former homebirth midwife, author, amateur historian, and raises Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. She lives at home with her husband and children.

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