Herostories

Herostories is a book that tells the untold stories of nineteenth- and twentieth-century midwifery in Iceland. It is composed from the memoirs and biographies of 100 Icelandic midwives and challenges traditional sagas of androcentric conquest. The poems center the adventures of ljósmæður, "mothers of light," and document the professional achievements of Iceland's first women to work outside the home.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 162 pages
Publication date: 04 May 2023
Publisher: Deep Vellum Publishing

Herostories unveils captivating tales that often go unnoticed in mainstream history books, delving into the harrowing journeys and remarkable triumphs of nineteenth- and twentieth-century midwifery in the expansive landscape of Iceland. Compiled from the memoirs and biographies of 100 Icelandic midwives, poet-historian Kristín Svava Tómasdóttirs has crafted a collection of poems that shed light on the risks and bravery associated with childbirth. By eschewing traditional narratives of male-dominated conquest, these poems center around the adventures of ljósmæður, or "mothers of light." Tómasdóttir employs epic elements such as daring mountain treks, rivers crossed on horseback, and unwavering compassion to challenge the conventional ways in which stories become legendary.

The sequel to Tómasdóttir and Thors award-winning and PEN-nominated work, Stormwarning, Herostories chronicles the professional accomplishments of Iceland's pioneering women who ventured into the workforce outside the home, serving as forerunners to today's midwives who remain integral to contemporary healthcare on the island.

Beyond mere archival recognition, the text's formally ambitious poetics intertwine narratives of selfless womanly caretaking with battles for literacy and education, highlighting the fundamental tensions between feminine self-actualization and the romanticized portrayal of these trailblazing figures.

Weight: 262g
Dimension: 127 x 179 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781646052288