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This is the third novel I've read by Martha Conway and each one is a delight. The story of The Physician's Daughter kept me going at all hours of the night. It's that good. Right from the beginning, Vita, the novel's protagonist, engages the reader with her can-do spirit and unwillingness to bend to convention. She soaks up any crumbs of medical knowledge her father, a doctor, throws her way. Against all odds, and there are many, she never gives up on her dream to become a doctor at a time when women were relegated to the home and considered to be the weaker sex.
The novel is set just after the American civil war when men were coming home maimed physically and scarred emotionally. One of them is Jacob, who knew Vita's brother. Vita's on again and off again relationship with Jacob and the surprising ways she deals with him underlines her determination to let nothing stand in the way of what she wants.
Martha Conway entertains with her exquisite phrases and extensive details of the time. A well-researched and loving tale.
Just finished this wonderful book, [b:The Physician's Daughter 59805953 The Physician's Daughter Martha Conway https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1653141449l/59805953.SY75.jpg 94196497] by [a:Martha Conway 23092 Martha Conway https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1407087681p2/23092.jpg]. I'm not a historical fiction fan for the most part. Like if they hadn't numbered the World Wars, I wouldn't know which came first. (JK)Still, this novel gives great insight into a woman's chances of becoming a certified doctor at the end of the Civil War. (Hint: 1865-1866)The main character, Vita, is a physician's daughter whose brother died during the war. He was supposed to be the one who followed in Dad's footsteps. He never wanted to, but whip smart Vita always did. However, Dad was old school (read: about normal for the time period) and wouldn't suffer the indignities of having his daughter become a doctor. (How the world changes, eh?)The important task for a woman in Vita's time period was to get married, not something Vita desired. So, rather than being pawned off on some old coot, she struck a deal with Jacob, a former soldier who somehow survived Andersonville prison. Their deal? He and Vita split her dowry. She gets the money for med school. He gets money for an invention he and a fellow prisoner concocted during their time in Andersonville.It seems to be going along just peachy until Jacob suggests, on their wedding night, that Vita put her end of the bargain on hold and join his pursuit instead. Since she's now a married woman, all their joint funds are in Jacob's name. She assumes he's welching on their deal and leaves, basically dropping off the face of the earth.I grew very attached to both Vita and Jacob and their individuals struggles. Hers were the taboos faced by a woman who wanted a career. His involved PTSD from the war. What I really loved about the book was the insight into life as an intelligent woman in that time period. Each chapter of the book starts with a quote about women from a medical book written in the 1800s. They would be funny if the quotes did express widely-held beliefs of the day. For example:“The majority of women (happily for them) are not much troubled by sexual feeling of any kind.” From The Functions and Disorders of the Reproductive Organs, Dr. William Acton, 1881 Great story and very enlightening. I enjoyed it.
