The Physician's Daughter

By: Martha Conway

Narrated by: Norma Butikofer

A compelling novel of female perseverance and the role of women in society set in the aftermath of the American Civil War. For fans of Tracey Chevalier and The Second Mrs Thistlewood.

In a world made for men, can one pioneering woman break free from tradition and walk a new path?

It is 1865, the American Civil War has just ended and 18-year old Vita Tenney is determined to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a country doctor like her father. But when her father tells her she must get married instead, Vita explores every means of escape - and finds one in the person of war veteran Jacob Culhane. Damaged by what he's seen in battle and with all his family gone, Jacob is seeking investors for a fledgling business. Then he meets Vita - and together they hatch a plan that should satisfy both their desires.

Months later, Vita seemingly has everything she ever wanted. But alone in a big city and haunted by the mistakes of her past, she wonders if the life she always thought she wanted was too good to be true. When love starts to compete with ambition, what will come out on top?

From the author of The Floating Theatre, The Physician's Daughter is the story of two people trying to make their way in a world that is struggling to escape its past.

©2022 Martha Conway (P)2022 Bonnier Books UK

Critic reviews

"Completely charming." (Imogen Hermes Gowar, author of The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock on The Floating Theatre)

Another wonderful book by Ms. Conway

This is the second historical fiction novel by Martha Conway that I've read, and both are superb. I liked the Underground River a little better, but that is a truly great book. In this book, Conway is able to create a real feeling of time and place, which makes the best historical fiction so enjoyable to read. The situation for women in the 19th century was truly appalling, and the obstacles they had to overcome to become anything more than wives or working drudges were incredible. Vita's journey is a rough one, but one admires her for her courage and focus.
Jacob's story seemed rushed a bit, but it is a good look at the PTSD that so many Civil War soldiers suffered, but is almost never mentioned today. In reading about the post Civil War years, it's almost like millions of men tried to kill each other for four years and saw sites and scenes that mankind was never meant to see or deal with, and then when the war stopped, they just went home and started up where they left off. There were a lot of men who never got over it and ended up totally different people. Nobody was sure how to treat what they called Nostalgia or Soldier's Heart. Conway gives us a good portrait of what life was like for one of those men.
I'd recommend this book as a very good story of and look at Post Civil War America. Norman Butikofer does a fine job with the narration.