"Herostories reveals tales untold by most history books: the harrowing journeys and vital triumphs of nineteenth- and twentieth-century midwifery in the vast landscape of Iceland. Composed from the memoirs and biographies of one hundred Icelandic midwives, poet-historian Krist???in Svava T???omasd???ottir's found poems illuminate the dangers and valor of birthwork. Forgoing traditional sagas of androcentric conquest, these poems center the adventures of lj???osm??????ur, "mothers of light." T???omasd???ottir leverages epic ...
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"Herostories reveals tales untold by most history books: the harrowing journeys and vital triumphs of nineteenth- and twentieth-century midwifery in the vast landscape of Iceland. Composed from the memoirs and biographies of one hundred Icelandic midwives, poet-historian Krist???in Svava T???omasd???ottir's found poems illuminate the dangers and valor of birthwork. Forgoing traditional sagas of androcentric conquest, these poems center the adventures of lj???osm??????ur, "mothers of light." T???omasd???ottir leverages epic elements-dashing mountain treks, rivers forded on horseback, unyielding compassion-to challenge how and whose stories become legend. The follow-up to T???omasd???ottir/Thors's award-winning, PEN-nominated Stormwarning, Herostories documents the professional achievements of the island's first women to work outside the home, precursors to today's midwives, who remain central to contemporary Icelandic health care"--
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