The Physician

London, 1021 and nine year old Rob J. Cole's mother has passed away following a difficult childbirth.  Not long after that his father succumbs also after catching a fever while working in wet cold conditions. The Carpenter's Guild distributed the family's goods and children amongst themselves, but not Rob.  He was left alone for five cold days before a barber-surgeon shows up at the door and offers Rob an apprenticeship.

Nathan Croft had been an orphan like Rob, so he had an understanding of what Rob was going through.  Nathan's master, to whom he had been apprenticed to, had been murdered by a mob after being accused of being a witch.  He now simply called himself Barber, despite having learned many skills as a surgeon.  Barber not only provided surgery skills, but he also entertained the crowds and sold a medicine as they travelled the countryside. Neither time, Rob learns the entertainment side of the business, and then he begins to lead the medical side.

In Hereford, Rob gets the feeling that one of their patients is about to die.  He had had the same feeling when his parents were on the edge of death.  Barber quickly gets them out of Hereford because he doesn't want them accused of witchcraft.  By the age of 15, Rob is a big boy and has learned the trade well enough to earn a salary from Barber.

Shortly after Rob had turned 19, Barber suddenly died.  Rob inherited all of his possessions.  Rob decides that he would like to become a physician.  Unable to convince the best Jewish physicians to take him on, he decides to pretend to be a Jew and travel to Persia to learn at the feet of the best.  Travelling through France and Germany, Rob has a guide and translator, but as he enters Bohemia, he is on his own again.  Fortunately he is able to join a caravan later. The caravan includes a group of Jews, one of them agrees to teach Rob Parsi, the language of the Persians.  During the winter Rob begins to learn the ways of the Jews.  Once he arrives in Constantinople, he turns himself into a Jew, but promises not to forsake Jesus.

Rob's trials and tribulations don't end when he gets to his destination.  However, luck does swing his way and he wins his way into the school through the intervention of the Shah.  At the school Rob learns many aspects of being a physician, but he wants more.  He wants to be able to see inside the body, but that is not allowed, much to his chagrin.  Rob's studies are hard, but he does successfully become a physician.

However, would he ever return to his homeland?   During his training he had made good friends, and married.  Why would he want to return now?

Right from the opening sentence, author Noah Gordon had my attention.  I knew that I was in for a good read.  I found myself totally engrossed in this book, unable to put it down.  Fans of historical novels will undoubtedly enjoy the read.