A review by reikista
My Name Is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira

4.0

The story of midwife Mary Sutter, who wanted to become a surgeon before the Civil War, and also longed for a partner and husband, when her career seemed to negate this second wish, and the first, she was told, was simply impossible. She followed her dream into the hospitals and battlefields.

I learned so much about medicine at the time, and the impact of later findings about bacteria; about medical research in war; about the societal constraints on women in the medical professions; the beginning of nursing in the US; the clumsiness of battles, recovering wounded and dead, in the Civil War. It’s a great love story, with a great plot line, rich characters and historical context.