James Barry was one of the most outstanding doctors of the nineteenth century – a brilliant surgeon, a tireless campaigner for medical reform, and a compassionate Inspector-General of the Army.But throughout a long and distinguished career an air of secrecy, even of scandal, always clung to Barry. The shrill voice, the diminutive build, the almost ostentatious humanity – all struck a discordant … struck a discordant note in the stiff, conventional world of the officers’ mess. Only after the doctor’s death in 1865 did the incredible truth come to light:
Dr. James Barry was a woman.
What was her real identity? How did she manage to conceal her sex from the army for forty-six years? Why did she take on a man’s role and a man’s work?
In this vivid and meticulous biography, June Rose pieces together the clues in the Barry mystery and comes up with some astonishing answers. She tells of the elite intellectual circle which first conceived the masquerade and sponsored the little girl’s entrance, in disguise, into Edinburgh University; she recounts Barry’s strange connection with a powerful aristocratic family and her intense relationship with Lord Charles Somerset, Governor of the Cape Colony and one of the few men to know her secret.
And, most fascinating of all, she provides rare insights into Barry’s unique and contradictory personality: her determined clashes with authority, her courageous endurance of appalling conditions in every corner of the globe, her unforgettable encounter with Florence Nightingale.
The Perfect Gentleman is the story of an extraordinary adventure – and a remarkable woman.
Praise for June Rose
‘A fascinating, well-documented book’ – Sunday Telegraph
‘June Rose has succeeded in re-creating the past and relating it to the present… a fascinating account’ – Times Literary Supplement
June Rose (1926-2018) was a writer and broadcaster who specialised in probing into the human and historical background of the social issues of the day. She authored several biographies, including Marie Stopes and the Sexual Revolution, Elizabeth Fry, the nineteenth-century prison reformer and Modigliani, the twentieth-century Italian painter and Susan Valadon: Mistress of Montmartre.
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What an amazing story about a brilliant woman who hid her femininity for her entire life so that she could practice medicine. In this time of so much stress, I found it uplifting and inspirational that others have gone through similar issues in other times. I guess we have progressed somewhat!
It was an interesting book. She was a very skilled and dedicated doctor. She could have used lessons on relating to people. but it is amazing what she accomplished. It’s hard to believe she actually fooled so many people who had fairly close contact with her. I’m glad she died before being completely exposed, as that would have destroyed her, I think.
I did not like it I never finished it disgusting
Historically, many women have contributed to scientific, political, social and cultural progress as hidden heroes. They accomplished “men’s work” by letting their partners and/or co-workers take credit. They dealt with the social realities of their time.
This hero contributed for decades in disguise and her story arouses both delight in her contribution and accomplishments and sadness that she is celebrated only after long delay.
What a fascinating story! A child prodigy, with zero chance of fulfilling her promise and only one way to use her gifts. Surely no one has led a more interesting life than this person. But what a lonely life it must have been.
An interesting book. At times the writing was hard to follow .
I had never heard of Dr. James Barry and was amazed to learn of the extraordinary life she led. It’s unfortunate that history has not given her credit for the reforms that she initiated. I hope that this book will be widely read.
Fascinating. Brilliantly written. Great historical perspective. Excellent read.
Interesting story. I didn’t know about this.
Fascinating read about a woman doctor who masqueraded as an officer and a gentleman in the British army. He/She had a very interesting life and the author sets out to record as many episodes as possible. But the book is not a memoir, it is a biography, and I would like to have seen a more well rounded story with more anecdotal scene from supporting characters. Perhaps there weren’t any more or perhaps the way they’re handled is a little too informative and dry. Still, a good read and worth learning about.
While the subject is curious, the book is an in depth dissection of the life of a brilliant but somewhat abrasive, petulant, socially inept woman. Drawn from records and letters, the research must have been exhaustive to support the story presented.
The writing is as well paced as the subject matter can allow and I applaud the author for undertaking a project of this magnitude.
Overall, it was a fascinating peek into a world in which extraordinary women were not considered capable of making the contributions with which society could have advanced and lives could have been saved.
Sad to see the lengths this woman had to go to in order to be a doctor. Very strange life indeed.
Did not like it at all
Fascinating story of a woman, passing as a man, who fought for and provided a better quality of medicine in far-flung parts of the British Empire, all while keeping her gender (sort of) a secret. Prickly and sensitive, she was her own best friend and worst enemy.
June Rose’s telling of Dr Barry’s story shows us both sides of her personality, what she achieved and how she undermined her own success. Great read!
The book is an easy read, the central character James Barry has a sad life “hiding” but with a lot of grit was able to keep her secret and had a long but troubled career in the British military medical branch.
Fascinating!
Fascinating history of an amazing woman!
This book was a snooze. The author refused to refer to the dr as “he/him”, when clearly this person chose to live as a man.
I didn’t care for it.
I’m sure it was fairly accurate in the telling. The woman was her own worst enemy at times.