Orlean Puckett: The Life of a Mountain Midwife

I have visited the still standing home of Ms Puckett and you can still picture her living her simple life there. She is a fascinating person in our history. The book depicts a life that to us seems extraordinary but to her were just the way it was. Great read !!

Funny, Sad, and Remarkable story. Author Karen Smith has researched and documented beautifully the life of mountain midwife, Orlean Puckett (1844-1939), known for decades only through oral legends. Through personal interviews with relatives and neighbors, and study of the area, the era, and the customs, Smith has provided an invaluable regional history that would have otherwise been largely lost. In this quick easy read, she captures perfectly the local color and dialect to create a most entertaining and informative biography. Her work dispels myths, leaves questions where they remain, and turns a mountain legend into living history. Highly recommended, especially for anyone interested in turn-of-the-century life in the Blue Ridge Mountains. And if you love this one, you'll also love Richard Davids' "The Man Who Moved a Mountain." The two go hand in hand.

This book presents a picture of a strong mountain woman who, after giving birth to and losing 24 babies, decided to become a midwife in southwestern Virginia. It was not so much the midwifery that drew me to this book, but the account of the mountain men's role in the Civil War and the Home Guard Troops that reeked havoc on the women and children left behind. Interviews of men who helped construct the Blue Ridge Parkway and accounts of the old mountain ways of doing things like sheep shearing, making soap, bartering chestnuts, etc. made this an interesting read. In Orlean Puckett's time, neighbor helped neighbor. Puckett was a strong woman with a good attitude and a quick humor. If she were living today, she's the kind of woman I'd want to spend lots of time with. The author did an excellent job of capturing the essence of mountain life from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s. Times and people have certainly changed but fortunately, because of this book, we have a recording that will endure for future generations to read, learn, enjoy, and appreciate.

This is a delightful book informing one of the past times when a midwife was an important part of the mountain community. Karen has done a wonderful job of getting interviews from those who knew Aunt Orlean and imparting that information to us. A picture of the past is brought to us, and one cannot help but feel admiration for such a strong woman. Thank you, Karen, for such a picture!

Orlean Puckett: The Life Of A Mountain Midwife by Karen Cecil Smith provides the reader with an exemplary life story of a strong and determined mountain woman. Orlean Puckett (1844-1939) was a bride by age 16, gave birth to 24 babies, and survived the Civil War (during which she was harassed and besieged by Home Guard troops). Becoming a midwife at age 45, Orlean Puckett successfully delivered over a thousand babies. This superbly documented, painstakingly researched, very highly recommended biography offers a clear glimpse into a truly remarkable turn-of-the-century life and would make an excellent addition to Women's Studies reading lists and American History biography collections.