The cholera outbreak in London in 1827 was considered ended when, three months later, there was another outbreak. Dr. Croft, a noted physician, had made many calls to his patients. A last call to the Beady household found three people dead and one eight year old child still alive. The doctor picked her up, despite possible contamination, and took her home to his housekeeper, Mrs. Phipps. He was scolded roundly for bringing contamination to the house. They nursed little Eleanor Beady back to health.
Grisly, humorous, women’s issues and the state of health care in the late 1800s. Parented by Dr. Horace Croft, a brilliant and very distracted physician, and Mrs. Phipps, his stern housekeeper, Eleanor (Nora) grew up to assist Dr. Croft in his many experiments on cadavers. She learned surgical techniques, practicing on cadavers. She studied all the books and papers that she could lay her hands on. She learned to love the search for answers. Answers to the many questions about the workings human body.
Dr. Croft had a professional enemy in one Dr. Vickery. They not only disagreed but they disliked each other intensely. Dr. Daniel Gibson, a young doctor, came to work and live with Dr. Croft taking very a cherished spot with the great man. Here the story also turns to the place of women in the 1840’s. Dr. Gibson disapproved of Nora and her work in the surgery and her lack of refinement. More than just socially unacceptable, some of the surgical work she did was illegal as she was not a licensed physician. London’s Royal College did not admit women. The nature of her work wth Dr. Croft had to be kept secret, especially from Dr. Vickery. Dr. Harry Trimble, a friend and colleague of Dr. Gibson’s became a wild card in this scenario of learning, medicine, deception and romance.
Eleanor (Nora) had only one year of finishing school. Her socialization involved taking care of patients and keeping Dr. Croft’s surgery spotlessly clean. Rather than embroidery, her stitches were sutures. As the story progresses, Nora’s status as an illegal practitioner of medicine - and a woman at that! - is finally exposed. It was then that Nora actually stood up for herself. The results were….. to tell you more would not be fair.
Well researched, the novel included the names of famous women of medicine and nursing. I loved this book, it’s a keeper! Good character development - I liked them all, except of course , Dr. Vickery who was just not likeable. The end left me wanting more. Gladly there is a sequel in the offing, but no publishing date as yet.
“Ears ringing, Nora rose to her feet, her voice floundering
under a wave of noise from the crowd.”
~ Nora, The Girl in His Shadow
Title: The Girl in His Shadow
Author: Audrey Blake (creative alter-ego of Jaima Fixen and Regina Sirois)
Copyright: 2021 by Jaima Fixen and Regina Sirois (co-authors)
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark. An imprint of Sourcebooks
Type: Novel
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781728228723
ISBN: 9781980091479 (audiobook)
Ebook: 9781728228730
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