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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
Really wonderfully done. The last line in the epilogue literally left me with chills: "the Fall of Rome was, for the west anyway, 'the greatest, perhaps, and most awful scene in the history of mankind."' Coming on the heels of this story, it was really excellently done. I mourned the empire's demise with the characters. I felt powerfully for many of the characters throughout the story. Particularly in the second half of the book, I was literally heartbroken for Charis at the idea of how unfair it was that she could not be both woman and doctor. Every injustice thrown at her had my hand itching to smack the person who was telling her no.
On top of the good story, it is clear that this author knows this period. This book is chock full of history and I can honestly saw that I learned a lot about the 4th century Roman Empire. In Alexandria she shows you about the struggle between sects of Christianity and Judaism and in Thrace she demonstrates how relations developed between Rome and the Visigoths. It was all fascinating and educational. Some of the information did bog down the story once or twice, but nothing too bad. Overall, really excellently done.
"Love is certainly a great god, to make two intelligent people look so foolish."
On top of the good story, it is clear that this author knows this period. This book is chock full of history and I can honestly saw that I learned a lot about the 4th century Roman Empire. In Alexandria she shows you about the struggle between sects of Christianity and Judaism and in Thrace she demonstrates how relations developed between Rome and the Visigoths. It was all fascinating and educational. Some of the information did bog down the story once or twice, but nothing too bad. Overall, really excellently done.
"Love is certainly a great god, to make two intelligent people look so foolish."
Still one of my favorites historical novel for more than 15 years now.
I'm so glad I found this book, even thought I had to buy it second hand since it's out of print! The author truly immersed me in 4th century and carried me along a very exciting journey. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is interested in the history of the early church during the roman era but also those who just like a tale well told.
I had no idea what to expect from this book; however, it turned out to be a gem of a novel. A very well told story.
This book had everything I look for in a book: a female protagonist who is not defined by her femaleness. Someone who has a calling in her life (in this case the calling to be a doctor) and will let nothing stop her from practicing her art. It has romance, which is not the primary focus of her life (nor the source of great anguish; she deals with it and still does her job, which is awesome). Charis (the main character) is practical, driven, passionate, rational, and just wonderful. I couldn't put the book down and was completely enthralled from beginning to end.
adventurous
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
In a film class in college, the professor stated that films about the Roman Empire tell us more about the time in which they were made than the actual time period. I feel that is especially true with this book. It's a charming story and held my attention more than I expected. However, it seems much too modern to be authentic for me. Charis, a noblewoman who feels trapped in the society she is born to, runs away after an awful marriage arrangement to become a doctor. Her first stop is Alexandria for training, disguised as a eunuch. The book chronicles her journey through her studies and the empire where she ends up on the frontier fighting the Goths. This was a different time period than I usually read, so it was refreshing to be in the thick of the Roman Empire. The author does a fairly decent job with the intrigues and problems of the time. As I said, the story is charming. Charis just feels too modern in how she interacts throughout the story.
One of my favorite books of all time. Charis, an Ephesian aristocrat, flees an unwanted marriage with a brutal official, by disguising herself as a eunuch and going to Alexandria to study medicine. Once she becomes a doctor, a series of coincidences lead her to becoming the personal physician to Athanasius (yes, THAT Athanasius), catapulting her into undesired political intrigue. Her adventures will take her past the borders of the late Roman Empire, and lead her into both adversity and love. Bradshaw, a classicist, shows loving attention to historical, literary, and medical detail, while providing the reader with fascinating, well-rounded characters both fictional and historical.
So few historical novels are set in the Byzantine empire - and this proves more should be. Of interest to anyone who likes medicine and the later Romans. Or just strong women coming of age stories.