Noah Gordon’s acclaimed trilogy, spanning one thousand years in the lives of one uncommonly gifted family In The Physician, an orphan in eleventh-century London, Robert Cole, becomes a fast-talking swindler. As he matures, his strange gift–an acute sensitivity to impending death–never leaves him, and he yearns to become a healer. Arab madrassas are the only authentic medical schools, and he … madrassas are the only authentic medical schools, and he makes his perilous way to Persia. Christians are barred from Muslim schools, but by claiming he is a Jew, he studies under the world’s most renowned physician, Avicenna. Cole’s journey and love for a woman who must struggle against her only rival–medicine–make The Physician a riveting modern classic.
In Shaman, Dr. Robert Judson Cole, nineteenth-century descendent of the first Robert Cole, travels from his ravaged Scottish homeland, through the operating rooms of antebellum Boston, to the cabins of frontier Illinois. In the wilderness he befriends the starving remnants of the Sauk tribe, who have fled their reservation. In the process, he absorbs their culture and learns native remedies that enrich his classical medical education. He marries a remarkable settler woman he had saved from illness. The Cole family is drawn into the bloody vortex of the Civil War, and their determination to survive in the midst of wilderness and violence will stay with the reader long after the final page.
In Matters of Choice, Roberta Jeanne d’Arc Cole is the latest first-born descendant of Dr. Robert Cole. Favored to be named associate chief of medicine at a Boston hospital, she is married to a surgeon and owns a trophy residence in Cambridge as well as a summer house. But everything melts away. Her gender and her work at an abortion clinic cost her the hospital appointment. Her marriage fails. Crushed, she goes to her farmhouse in western Massachusetts, thinking to sell it, and finds an unexpected life. How she continues to fight for every woman’s right to choose, while acknowledging her own ticking clock and maternal yearning, makes this prize-winning third story of the Cole trilogy relevant and unforgettable.
By noahgordon
My favorite book of all time.
The first book, the physician, was the best. The main character decides to attend a medical school in Persia, so he sets out from England on the tenth century, travels to Persia, pretending to be a Jew. He learns about the Hebrew faith by befriending a Jewish person who teaches him the language and culture. He also learns about the Muslim faith and customs in order to be admitted to the medical school. He becomes a success, and marries a fellow Brit who he met on his journey. He fights the plague and treats the wounded in historical battles in the area. Eventually he and his family return to England where he discovers he does not fit in with his fellow doctors because his methods now differ from theirs and he is not accepted by them. He travels to Scotland where he settles in his wife’s homeland and practices medicine for the rest of his life. He possesses a special ability to know when people will die in the near future. The story is a fascinating read, and is told with great skill. It is interesting to see how medicine was practiced in that time in history, and how people lived then. I really enjoyed the book. I’d give it 5 stars.
The second book, set in the time of the civil war, features a descendant of the previous doctor, who immigrated to the United States and settles in the Midwest. He also has “the gift” of knowing when people will die soon. He established a country practice and serves in the war. He dies soon after he returns home. His son is deaf from childhood and wants to follow in his father’s footsteps He overcomes overwhelming obstacles due to his deafness and it is interesting to see how his family and teacher work with him to learn to lipread and modulate his speech which is flat due to his deafness. He also possesses “The gift “. He becomes a successful doctor in spite of his handicap. I liked this story, but it wasn’t as varied a tale as the first book. I’d give it 4 stars
The third book is set in the 1960’s and features a woman who is descended from the previous 2 doctors. She has a successful career as a physician in Boston. Her marriage is a disaster and when it ends, she travels to her vacation home with the intention of selling it as part of the settlement in her divorce. She appreciates the rural lifestyle of the area and decides to settleand work there. She established a successful practice and becomes part of the fabric of the community. She befriends a widower with a hazy past and falls in love with him and his teenage daughter. A tragedy occurs which ends the relationship, and she is overcome with grief for her loss. Eventually she resumes her life and the ending is very satisfying. It was my least favorite of the 3 books. The story was not very different from many others I have read and not as interesting as the earlier books. I give it 3 stars.
I read the first book long ago and it’s one of my favorites hence wanted to read more.
One of my favorite books ever. Reading the trilogy for the fourth time.
Wonderful read.
One of the best historical faction trilogies I have ever read. Highly recommend.
I loved this book and could hardly put it down. I intend to read everything this author writes. He is an excellent story teller!
Physician was the best. Am on third one.
This trilogy is an exceptional foray into the generations of an exceptional medical family. From the dark ages to present day, it captures believes, knowledge and experience in an unforgettable saga.
The 1st two books were informing,and had characters you could really care about. The 3rd book was just ok. I really liked the fact, that the last 2 books continued to refer to the main characters in the 1st book. Books 1 & 2 made my all time favorite list. I would definitely recommend this book.
historical fiction that is truly historical and insights into modern medicine and its crude beginnings. Also goes into the politics of the day, not all that different from now.
Loved them!!
It is timely and Ctually drives home that there is nothing new under the sun. Tje main chapter Rob I drawn well and cRr I es the story.
The last book of the trilogy was the weakest; as if he had an editor in the wings telling him to hurry up….