Hildegard of Bingen

2 books in series
4.5 out of 5 stars 29 ratings

The Greenest Branch: A Novel of Germany's First Female Physician Publisher's summary

1115, Germany. Young Hildegard is sent to the Abbey of St. Disibod in the Rhineland as her parents' gift to the Church in accordance with a custom known as the tithe. Hildegard has a deep love of nature and a knowledge of herbal healing, and she hopes to purse medical studies at St. Disibod. But no sooner does she settle into her new life than she finds out that as a girl she will not be allowed to attend the monastic school or have access to the abbey's library; instead, she must stay at the women's convent.

It might seem that Hildegard's dreams have quickly come to an end. Yet she refuses to be sidelined. Against fierce opposition from Prior Helenger, the hostile head of the monks' cloister, she finds another way to learn - by securing an apprenticeship with Brother Wigbert who runs the infirmary and is in dire need of a capable assistant. Under his supervision, she begins to train as the abbey's first female physician.

When Hildegard's reputation starts to spread throughout the Rhineland, Helenger's persecution escalates as he fears losing control over the women's community. But that is not the only challenge she must grapple with. She has developed feelings for Volmar, a fellow Benedictine novice, that force Hildegard to re-examine the fundamental assumptions she has made about her life.

©2018 Patrycja Podrazik (P)2020 Tantor
Show more Show less
Historical Sci-Fi & Fantasy Women's Fiction
You're getting a free audiobook


You're getting a free audiobook.

$14.95 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Product List
  • Book 1

    Regular price: $21.49

  • Book 2

    Regular price: $21.49

Similar series

The Kingsbridge Novels The Fairmile Series The Women of Troy Series Oxford Medieval Mysteries The Wolf Hall Trilogy The Grail Quest Brother Cadfael Master of War Chivalry The Joubert Family Chronicles Plantagenets Series Struggle for a Crown

Book 1 in other series

The Shadow of What Was Lost Audiobook By James Islington cover art
The Shadow of What Was Lost By: James Islington
A Vision of Light Audiobook By Judith Merkle Riley cover art
A Vision of Light By: Judith Merkle Riley
The Diamond Throne Audiobook By David Eddings cover art
The Diamond Throne By: David Eddings
The Secret Healer Audiobook By Ellin Carsta, Terry Laster - translator cover art
The Secret Healer By: Ellin Carsta, and others
Waves of Mercy Audiobook By Lynn Austin cover art
Waves of Mercy By: Lynn Austin
The Glassblower Audiobook By Petra Durst-Benning, Samuel Willcocks - translator cover art
The Glassblower By: Petra Durst-Benning, and others
Hild Audiobook By Nicola Griffith cover art
Hild By: Nicola Griffith
A Swarming of Bees Audiobook By Theresa Tomlinson cover art
A Swarming of Bees By: Theresa Tomlinson
Princess Academy Audiobook By Shannon Hale cover art
Princess Academy By: Shannon Hale
Wine of Violence Audiobook By Priscilla Royal cover art
Wine of Violence By: Priscilla Royal
Untamed Audiobook By Elizabeth Lowell cover art
Untamed By: Elizabeth Lowell
An Untamed Land Audiobook By Lauraine Snelling cover art
An Untamed Land By: Lauraine Snelling

Listens by similar authors

The Only Woman in the Room Audiobook By Marie Benedict cover art
The Only Woman in the Room By: Marie Benedict
The Secrets We Kept: Reese's Book Club Audiobook By Lara Prescott cover art
The Secrets We Kept: Reese's Book Club By: Lara Prescott
The Cape Doctor Audiobook By E. J. Levy cover art
The Cape Doctor By: E. J. Levy
American Princess Audiobook By Stephanie Marie Thornton cover art
American Princess By: Stephanie Marie Thornton
Counted with the Stars Audiobook By Connilyn Cossette cover art
Counted with the Stars By: Connilyn Cossette
The Rebel Nun Audiobook By Marj Charlier cover art
The Rebel Nun By: Marj Charlier
The Engineer's Wife Audiobook By Tracey Enerson Wood cover art
The Engineer's Wife By: Tracey Enerson Wood
Becoming Marie Antoinette Audiobook By Juliet Grey cover art
Becoming Marie Antoinette By: Juliet Grey
The Warsaw Sisters Audiobook By Amanda Barratt cover art
The Warsaw Sisters By: Amanda Barratt
The Last List of Miss Judith Kratt Audiobook By Andrea Bobotis cover art
The Last List of Miss Judith Kratt By: Andrea Bobotis
Brotherless Night Audiobook By V. V. Ganeshananthan cover art
Brotherless Night By: V. V. Ganeshananthan
My Name Is Vittoria Audiobook By Dafna Vitale Ben Bassat cover art
My Name Is Vittoria By: Dafna Vitale Ben Bassat
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_webcro805_stickypopup