In "The Girl in His Shadow," we follow Nora Beady, a young orphan who is taken in by Dr. Horace Croft after losing her family to cholera. Under Dr. Croft's mentorship, Nora learns the art of surgery and anatomy illustration, all while keeping her skills a secret in a society that forbids women from practicing medicine. As Nora's talents are revealed, she faces challenges and betrayals, ultimately leading to a court hearing that exposes her involvement in groundbreaking medical advancements. The plot is filled with twists, turns, and a restrained romance theme, highlighting Nora's journey as she navigates a world dominated by men and strives to pursue her calling in medicine.

Characters:

Characters are vividly described and complex, highlighting their growth and interactions within a challenging societal framework.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is characterized by its engaging and historically rich prose, bringing the medical world of the era to life.

Plot/Storyline:

The story revolves around a young woman who strives to overcome oppressive societal norms to practice medicine, featuring medical trials and personal sacrifices.

Setting:

The setting is deeply rooted in Victorian England, showcasing the societal constraints and medical practices of the time.

Pacing:

The pacing balances fast-moving storylines with moments that may slow down, maintaining reader interest.

Notes:

The story is set in the 1840s, a time of significant advancements in medicine.

Ether was introduced and used in several medical cases within the plot.

Nora, a female protagonist, learns medicine alongside her male mentors and eventually outsmarts them.

The novel includes competition for Nora’s attention between two male doctors.

It explores the challenges women faced in pursuing medicine during Victorian England.

Nora performs a risky surgery that was typically prohibited for women and saves a man's life.

The plot contains twists, making it more than just a simple romance.

Nora's character represents women breaking societal barriers in a male-dominated profession.

The authors conducted extensive research on the history of medicine to inform the narrative.

The narrative addresses the grim realities of studying anatomy and performing surgeries in that era.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of death, dissection, and potentially graphic medical descriptions and practices.

Has Romance?

While there are romantic elements throughout the narrative, they are secondary to the protagonist's quest for acceptance and recognition in the medical field.

From The Publisher:

THE USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

"An exquisitely detailed journey through the harrowing field of medicine in mid-19th century London."-Tracey Enerson Wood, USA Today bestselling author of The Engineer's Wife and The War Nurse

An unforgettable historical fiction novel about one woman who believed in scientific medicine before the world believed in her.

London, 1845: Raised by the eccentric surgeon Dr. Horace Croft after losing her parents to a deadly pandemic, the orphan Nora Beady knows little about conventional life. While other young ladies were raised to busy themselves with needlework and watercolors, Nora was trained to perfect her suturing and anatomical illustrations of dissections.

Women face dire consequences if caught practicing medicine, but in Croft's private clinic Nora is his most trusted-and secret-assistant. That is until the new surgical resident Dr. Daniel Gibson arrives. Dr. Gibson has no idea that Horace's bright and quiet young ward is a surgeon more qualified and ingenuitive than even himself. In order to protect Dr. Croft and his practice from scandal and collapse Nora must learn to play a new and uncomfortable role-that of a proper young lady.

But pretense has its limits. Nora cannot turn away and ignore the suffering of patients, even if it means giving Gibson the power to ruin everything she's worked for. And when she makes a discovery that could change the field forever, Nora faces an impossible choice. Remain invisible and let the men around her take credit for her work, or step into the light-even if it means being destroyed by her own legacy.

Fans of The Other Einstein and The Paris Library will relish this riveting and empowering story about one woman's fight to follow her dreams and build a life-and legacy-beyond what is expected of her.

Praise for The Girl in His Shadow:

"A suspenseful story of a courageous young woman determined to become a surgeon in repressive Victorian England. Fluidly written, impeccably researched, The Girl in His Shadow is a memorable literary gift to be read, reread, and treasured."-Gloria Goldreich, author of The Paris Children

Other Bestselling Historical Fiction from Sourcebooks Landmark:

The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris

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The Girl in His Shadow

Audrey Blake