Doc

A Novel

By: Mary Doria Russell

Narrated by: Mark Bramhall

Length: 16 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

The year is 1878, peak of the Texas cattle trade. The place is Dodge City, Kansas, a saloon-filled cow town jammed with liquored-up adolescent cowboys and young Irish hookers. Violence is random and routine, but when the burned body of a mixed-blood boy named Johnnie Sanders is discovered, his death shocks a part-time policeman named Wyatt Earp. And it is a matter of strangely personal importance to Doc Holliday, the frail 26-year-old dentist who has just opened an office at No. 24, Dodge House.

Beautifully educated, born to the life of a Southern gentleman, Dr. John Henry Holliday is given an awful choice at the age of 22: die within months in Atlanta or leave everyone and everything he loves in the hope that the dry air and sunshine of the West will restore him to health. Young, scared, lonely, and sick, he arrives on the rawest edge of the Texas frontier just as an economic crash wrecks the dreams of a nation. Soon, with few alternatives open to him, Doc Holliday is gambling professionally; he is also living with Mária Katarina Harony, a high-strung Hungarian whore with dazzling turquoise eyes, who can quote Latin classics right back at him. Kate makes it her business to find Doc the high-stakes poker games that will support them both in high style. It is Kate who insists that the couple travel to Dodge City, because “That’s where the money is.”

And that is where the unlikely friendship of Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp really begins - before Wyatt Earp is the prototype of the square-jawed, fearless lawman; before Doc Holliday is the quintessential frontier gambler; before the gunfight at the O.K. Corral links their names forever in American frontier mythology - when neither man wanted fame or deserved notoriety.

Authentic, moving, and witty, Mary Doria Russell’s fifth novel redefines these two towering figures of the American West and brings to life an extraordinary cast of historical characters, including Holliday’s unforgettable companion, Kate. First and last, however, Doc is John Henry Holliday’s story, written with compassion, humor, and respect by one of our greatest contemporary storytellers.

©2011 Mary Doria Russell (P)2011 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Fact and mythmaking converge as Russell creates a Dodge City filled with nuggets of surprising history, a city so alive readers can smell the sawdust and hear the tinkling of saloon pianos....Filled with action and humor yet philosophically rich and deeply moving - a magnificent read." ( Kirkus)

Thoroughly Enjoyable!

The book was engrossing and splendid. If they gave Academy Awards for narration, the narrator would deserve the honor. He was superb.

Ok Doc!

A fascinating story. Doc was quite an interest fellow. Great voice for all the characters.

Exquisite writing

The main characters are drawn with fine details and rich inner lives. The plot and many subplots provide a basis for their engaging interactions. The narration is very well suited to the setting.

Gentleman to the End

This record of Doc Holiday is very interesting and enjoyable to a life long Kansan who grew up watching Gunsmoke

I don’t give five stars lightly

If you are a Tombstone fan, this is a must. One of the best books I’ve listened to in awhile. Very character driven. I loved it.

GREAT Characters, but so Needlessly BORING!!

Most of the reviews on here point out how deep and well fleshed-out the characters are in this book. They're right. The characters are AMAZING. If all you want is a period piece with interesting Western characters and nothing more, then this is your book. As for the story.... NOTHING HAPPENS! Well, things happen, but nothing that's all that entertaining. Some people get sick... some people play the piano well... some people drink and play cards.... and I fall asleep! Are you serious? How do you take two iconic characters like Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp, and manage to make them THIS BORING?? Somehow, it was possible, because Russell did it.

Narrator is very good.

Bottom line, if you like Old West stories about places like Dodge City, and you don't mind if the story truly goes nowhere, then this is for you. As a pure character piece, this book is wonderful. However, I need a great story in order to enjoy a period piece like this.

What a list of characters

Interesting book but after a while I tired of the list of characters. The stories wer good even if some are historical fiction. In the end Doc Holliday did himselfself in,,died broke, but he was a devoted friend. His sense of loyalty and honor

Delightful book, delightful narration

If you could sum up Doc in three words, what would they be?

Poignant, engaging, funny

Who was your favorite character and why?

Almost hate to say Doc because so many are engaging, including Wyatt and Morgan, as well as the Jesuit priest. But Doc it is. He has so many sides, virtues and flaws. Russell has created a character who seems to have a perfect understanding of his own humanity.

Which character – as performed by Mark Bramhall – was your favorite?

Still Doc. The accent, the changes in tone that come with different moods of Doc are spot on. That said, Bramhall turns in a masterful performance of all the characters. His reading has greatly enhanced my enjoyment of this book. His timing and nuances are perfect.

If you could take any character from Doc out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Wyatt Earp. I would want to see if I could engage him in conversation.

Any additional comments?

This is a delightful listen. All criteria are met--great story, interesting characters, outstanding reader.

Doc is a must read!

Loved the writing and characterization in Doc. Highly recommend for those who love historical fiction.

Best book I’ve heard this year

Tombstone is my favorite movie, so I am interested in anything related to Doc Holliday or the Earps. This is by far the most entertaining and intriguing account I’ve ever found. Much of the dialogue bears a great resemblance to Tombstone, sometimes word for word. Mr Bramhall’s acting is also outstanding, the best I have found. I cannot praise this book enough. It’s is fantastic.