The Cape Doctor

British-army, 19th-century, historical-novel, historical-places-events, historical-research, history-and-culture, romance, medical-doctor, medical-treatment, England, Scotland, South- Africa***** Can you imagine making the decision (at age 11) to erase your life and become someone very different, even by gender, just so you can get an education? The female in her day was disregarded except for her inheritance and usefulness but very rarely educated. In her new incarnation she was able to go to medical school in Edinburgh and progressed to becoming a medical officer in the British army. She knew what her gender was and why she had to keep it a total secret, but in the novel (and possibly in life) she fell in love with the governor in Cape Town, South Africa and may have had a child with him. This is a novel, but it is based on the life of a real person who made great strides in medical care at cost to herself. Both the novel and the real doctor James Miranda Steuart Barry, FRS born c. 1789–99; died 25 July 1865 are amazing! I requested and received a temporary digital ARC of this book from Little, Brown and Company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!