The Plague Doctor

By: Andrew Friede

Narrated by: Paul Metcalfe

The Plague Doctor is a historical novel that follows the travels of a Jewish physician and his lawyer brother during the Black Death of 1347. They have lost their wives and children to plague, and devastated, they leave Florence to restart their lives. As the brothers traverse medieval Europe, they meld their medical and legal skills to resolve dilemmas engendered by a rapidly changing world. Along the way the meet two sisters—a midwife and a banker—whom they hope to marry and join them in moving to Poland (whose king is welcoming Jewish immigrants). However, just as the plague has revolutionized Europe, it has deeply impacted the brothers in ways they would never have predicted.

©2024 Andrew Friede (P)2024 Andrew Friede

Great book

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The narration was great, too. And I may have actually learned a little about Jewish rules and customs.

An entertaining and fascinating period piece, must read!!!

The Plague Doctor is an entertaining, detailed and brilliantly curated voyage of two Jewish brothers (one a physician and the other a lawyer) navigating the medieval period in Europe during and following the Black Death. The character development, medical accuracy and anecdotes are first-class. An extremely rewarding read, highly recommend to all audiences. So much wisdom is inherent in this beautiful book!

Empathic 11-hour audio companion

Warm, wise, and kind, filled with erudition — medical, Judaic, and historical — and finely-drawn characters. Wonderfully narrated. A sort-of Lone-Ranger chronicle of a doctor and lawyer-brother duo who solve one problem after another, many of which touch on ever-present ones, including homophobia, spousal and child abuse, women’s unfair share of child care and housework, and loss — as they travel through 14th century Europe (from Provence to Poland). Lively, entertaining, and profound – a melody poem on the meaning of life.

Excellent historical and cultural fiction.

The portrayal of the doctor’s experiences in the plague years and subsequent is both convincing and informative which I hold as a high bar for historical fiction. The story of the travels, adventures, and social events is coherent, believable literate, and very entertaining. The larger social context of the brother’s status as Jews and consummate professionals who are both very informed and dedicated to their perennially threatened community is impressively presented in a manner that is both informative and very heart felt. The recording production qualities are high and the narration is enjoyable and appropriate to the story. I recommend Dr Friede’s book highly and will read it a second time; no doubt with equal enjoyment.