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  • The Surgeon's Daughter

  • By: Audrey Blake
  • Narrated by: Susan Lyons
  • Length: 13 hrs and 24 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (543 ratings)

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The Surgeon's Daughter

By: Audrey Blake
Narrated by: Susan Lyons
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Publisher's summary

Nora Beady, the only female student at a prestigious medical school in Bologna, is a rarity. In the 19th century women are expected to remain at home and raise children, so her unconventional, indelicate ambitions to become a licensed surgeon offend the men around her. Under constant scrutiny, Nora's successes are taken for granted; her mistakes used as proof that women aren't suited to the field.

Everything changes when she allies herself with Magdalena Morenco, the sole female doctor on staff. Together the two women develop a groundbreaking surgery: the Cesarean section. It's a highly dangerous procedure and the research is grueling, but even worse is the vitriolic response from men. Most don't trust the findings of women, and many can choose to deny their wives medical care.

Already facing resistance on all sides, Nora is shaken when she meets a patient who will die without the surgery. If the procedure is successful, her work could change the world. But a failure could cost everything: precious lives, Nora's career, and the role women will be allowed to play in medicine.

©2022 Jaima Fixsen, Regina Sirois (P)2022 Recorded Books
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Editorial Review

Beyond historical fiction
It has been years since I’ve been on a historical fiction binge, and 2022 has beautifully given me an excuse to jump back in. I recently finished Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus and was looking for more female-led, STEM-inspired historical fiction when I found The Surgeon’s Daughter by Audrey Blake (the pseudonym of writing duo Regina Sirois and Jaima Fixsen). Set in the 19th century, the story opens with Nora, who dreams of becoming a licensed surgeon in a time when medicine is for men only. Nora travels from London to Bologna, Italy, where women are allowed to study. She soon discovers that being “allowed” to study has a price. With any mistake (perceived or real) held against her, can Nora prove them all wrong and develop new techniques to improve the groundbreaking cesarean section? I’ve been immersed from the first chapter, savoring each word and rooting for Nora’s success. — Patty C.

What listeners say about The Surgeon's Daughter

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Women surgeon in the 19 century

Excellent story about women in the medical field in the 19th century who dare to study as surgeons.

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Great finish to The Girl in his Shadow

London in the late 1840’s and a young woman who was born to be a doctor— against all odds.
Great characters take this story to its destination.

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Great story woven in with medical themes

If you are from a medical background or enjoy medical drama you will like this book. This book of fiction was likely all.too real for women of the mid 19th century.

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What a great story

Excellent all around! Well written clean romance it was a refreshing read about the struggle of women who wanted to be physicians.

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Loved it!

Such a riveting story! Great story line catches your attention from the first story! So happy to have found these books.

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AnotherWinner

I found this book to be a compelling and riveting sequel to the first one.

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An intelligent female wishing to study and learn medicine despite a very masculine world.

A very interesting story if a female desiring to learn and practice medicine. Well written and good narration. I felt it was well thought out and not overly dramatized. Very interesting and entertaining.

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Fantastic.

This is the second book to this series and I’m so glad they weaved characters from the first in.
Great listen, sad it’s over. Book3??

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Great story of valor and perseverance!

Love the story and learning hope Nora shaped her future. I generally don’t like sequels but this was definitely a good one. You don’t have to read the first to enjoy this one but it made it a lot better for me because I was doubly vested on all the characters. Even the bad ones deserved our love, we’ll all except one, the try villain!

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Excellent

Just as good as the first book. And so we’ll read by the narrator. I wished it would never end.

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