Hannah de Quincey

A fascinating, moving, important book; really eye opening to what it was like birthing in Jesus' time with a birth keeper's aid. Reading this tale facilitated a personal, human connection to Jesus, Joseph and Mother Mary which I've never experienced before, despite having been bought up a Christian. Salome's sight makes you realise just how brave and heroic Mary was. The book has had more impact on my understanding of her strength of character than any nativity. An engrossing, beautiful book that deepened my Christmas holidays, bringing home to me what was sacrificed by Jesus, his family and the good people alive in his time. Having had an empowering natural birth because of my amazing doula (Victoria Clewes) and the excellent midwife-led unit at the Princess Royal hospital in Telford supporting my husband and I in 2016, I heartily agree with Bridget's afterword that giving birth is a sacred initiation that benefits hugely from expert TLC to enable it to be the positive life event it ideally always should be.