Good Wives: Image and Reality in the Lives of Women in Northern New England, 1650-1750

Good Wives examines the lives of colonial women in northern New England between 1650-1750 through court records, letters, diaries and other primary sources. The book focuses on women's roles as housewives, mothers, "deputy husbands," and members of their communities during this pivotal century. The narrative follows several key figures whose experiences illuminate different aspects of colonial women's daily existence and responsibilities. Through these individual stories, readers learn about marriage customs, childbirth, domestic duties, economic activities, and religious practices in early New England. Ulrich structures the book around three main concepts - housewife, deputy husband, and consort - that defined women's identity and status. Each section explores how women navigated these roles while operating within the constraints of their patriarchal society. This social history challenges simplified views of colonial women as either oppressed victims or proto-feminists. By examining the complex reality of women's lives and work, the book reveals how they exercised considerable - though informal - power within the established social order.

Readers appreciate Ulrich's detailed research and use of primary sources to illuminate colonial women's daily lives. Many note how the book challenges stereotypes about Puritan women by showing their economic and social influence through court records, diaries, and household inventories. Specific praise focuses on Ulrich's analysis of "deputy husband" roles and her examination of women's legal rights. Multiple reviewers mention the engaging writing style that makes academic history accessible. Common criticisms include: - Dense academic language in some sections - Limited geographic scope - Lack of information about lower-class women - Too much focus on exceptional rather than typical cases Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,124 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (58 ratings) "Changed how I view colonial women's lives," writes one Amazon reviewer. "The academic terminology sometimes got in the way of the fascinating stories," notes a Goodreads review. Many readers recommend it for serious students of women's history rather than casual readers.

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📚 Author Laurel Thatcher Ulrich coined the famous feminist phrase "Well-behaved women seldom make history" in a 1976 academic article, years before writing Good Wives. 🏆 Good Wives won the Bancroft Prize in American History in 1991, one of the most prestigious awards in the field of historical scholarship. 👰 The book reveals how colonial women often worked as "deputy husbands," legally conducting business transactions and managing property when their spouses were away—a practice that was widely accepted despite strict gender roles of the era. 🌿 The author discovered that colonial women's medical knowledge was so valued that male doctors would sometimes consult with female healers about herbal remedies and treatments. 📜 The research draws heavily from court records and diaries, including the diary of Martha Ballard, which later inspired Ulrich's Pulitzer Prize-winning book A Midwife's Tale.