Rob J. Cole is orphaned in 11th century England. He sits at his mother's deathbed and feels her life drain away as it is happening. It is this gift for sensing impending death that drives him to become a healer. What fortuitous luck that he is picked up by a nomadic barber surgeon. He learns the tricks and trade of a good dog & pony show while uncovering his desire to know more. It's the medical knowledge and skill of a Jewish surgeon that give Rob his purpose--to go to Avicenna to study medicine. Never mind that he is a Christian and is not allowed to study. He makes the adruous journey from England to Ispahan, deep in the heart of Persian territory. On the way he 'converts' (read, disguised himself as) to Judaism so that he may attend the medical institute. The narrative is frought with historical inaccuracies, but this may be attributed to the fact that it was written in the 1970's. It may be time for a new edition after a quick fact check.

Fans of historical fiction. The story of modern medicine's origins is fascinating, as is the tension Gordon weaves between the three major religions (which are largely intact today).

Rob's friends at the school. Both are vivid, flawed, and heartwarming characters that seem as real as the person next to you on the bus.

That as soon as we meet his future wife, we know exactly that this is what she is.

Either didn't do as much research on 11th century Persia, or is now suffering from the fact that we now know much more about it than when he wrote it. One really has to keep in mind that this is fantasy and it should not be taken as a history lesson.

High re-read value. Despite historical inaccuracies and already being 20 years old, the story is well told.

As so often happens in historical fantasy, the main character becomes something of a super-man. In this case it's Rob's furtherings of medicine. The historical inaccuracies are rampant. From the very opening--Robert J. Cole as an 11th century English name?? A little difficult to believe, but forgivable.

I have not read the other books in the Rob J. trilogy (I believe there are three...not quite sure). Something in me doesn't want to. This is a complete tale on its own and I guess part of me just doesn't believe there's more to the story. Maybe I'm afraid the others will not live up. Maybe I've had one too many medieval history lessons between when I finished reading this the first time and now. Whatever the reason I like my memory of Rob J's story the way it is.

Interested in buying this? Support Writing.Com by making your purchase of The Physician   from Amazon.Com!

Created Jul 10, 2007 at 3:35pm • Submit your own review...