Summary
Cutting for Stone, the 2009 debut novel by Ethiopian-born Indian-American author Abraham Verghese, is a sweeping family saga that spans continents and generations. This critically acclaimed bestseller tells the story of twin brothers born in Ethiopia, their journey through medicine, and the complex web of relationships that shape their lives.
The novel has garnered widespread praise for its vivid storytelling, rich character development, and intricate exploration of medical practice. Verghese, a practicing physician himself, brings a unique perspective to the narrative, seamlessly weaving detailed medical procedures into the fabric of the story without overshadowing the human drama at its core.
Since its publication, Cutting for Stone has enjoyed remarkable success, spending over two years on The New York Times Best Seller list and selling more than a million copies. Its popularity extends to high places, with former U.S. President Barack Obama including it on his summer reading list in 2011. While no major adaptations have been produced yet, the novel was optioned for a film adaptation in 2012, with acclaimed director Susanne Bier attached to the project.
Plot
Marion and Shiva Stone are twin brothers born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to a secret union between an Indian nun and a British surgeon. Their mother dies during childbirth, and their father disappears, leaving them orphaned. The twins are raised by two Indian doctors at the mission hospital, known locally as “Missing.” As they grow up, both Marion and Shiva develop a fascination with medicine, influenced by their adoptive parents and the hospital environment.
As Ethiopia teeters on the brink of revolution, the twins' lives take divergent paths. Their relationship becomes strained during adolescence, particularly due to their shared interest in Genet, the daughter of a hospital worker. Marion falls in love with Genet, but it is Shiva who becomes her first lover, causing a rift between the brothers. Meanwhile, political unrest in Ethiopia impacts their family, with their adoptive father briefly imprisoned due to his connection with a rebel general.
Marion pursues a formal medical education, while Shiva remains at Missing, focusing on treating birth-related fistulas. When Genet becomes involved in an airplane hijacking, Marion is forced to flee Ethiopia to avoid arrest. He makes his way to New York City, where he begins a surgical residency at a underfunded hospital in the Bronx. During a complex surgery, Marion unexpectedly encounters his biological father, Thomas Stone, now a renowned liver surgeon in Boston.
This chance meeting sets in motion a series of events that lead Marion to confront his past. He must reconcile with the father who abandoned him and the brother who betrayed him. The novel explores themes of family, exile, and the healing power of medicine as Marion navigates his complex relationships and comes to terms with his identity as a surgeon and as a man caught between two worlds.
Themes
Family bonds and betrayal
Impact of political unrest on personal lives
Medicine as both profession and passion
Intersection of love and duty
Effects of exile and displacement
Redemption and forgiveness
Cultural identity and belonging
Setting
Set primarily in Ethiopia during the mid-20th century, Cutting for Stone unfolds against the backdrop of a nation on the brink of revolution. The story begins in 1954 at “Missing” Hospital in Addis Ababa, where the protagonists are born, and continues through the tumultuous years of Ethiopia's political upheaval in the 1960s and 1970s.
The novel's geographical scope extends beyond Ethiopia, following characters to New York City and briefly to India. Key locations include the hospital compound where the twins grow up, the streets and neighborhoods of Addis Ababa, and later, an underfunded hospital in the Bronx where Marion completes his medical residency.
Verghese vividly portrays the stark contrasts between the lush, mountainous landscapes of Ethiopia and the gritty urban environment of New York. The author's intimate knowledge of medical practices infuses the settings with rich detail, from the operating theaters of “Missing” Hospital to the chaotic emergency rooms of 1970s New York, creating a compelling backdrop for the characters' personal and professional journeys.
Characters
Marion Stone: The protagonist and narrator of the novel. One of the twin brothers born to Sister Mary Joseph Praise and Thomas Stone. Marion becomes a skilled surgeon and flees Ethiopia for America after political unrest. He struggles with his relationship to his brother and father while pursuing his medical career.
Shiva Stone: Marion's twin brother. Unlike Marion, Shiva stays in Ethiopia and becomes an expert in repairing fistulas without formal medical training. His actions with Genet create a rift between him and Marion that lasts for years.
Thomas Stone: The twins' biological father and a brilliant surgeon. He abandons his sons after their mother dies in childbirth. Stone later reappears in Marion's life as a renowned liver surgeon in Boston, leading to a complex reconciliation.
Sister Mary Joseph Praise: An Indian nun who becomes the twins' mother. She dies giving birth to Marion and Shiva. Her secret relationship with Thomas Stone sets the entire story in motion.
Hema: An Indian obstetrician who becomes the twins' adoptive mother. She delivers the twins and later raises them with Ghosh, providing a loving home and medical education.
Ghosh: An Indian physician who becomes the twins' adoptive father. He teaches himself surgery to replace Thomas Stone and mentors the boys in medicine. Ghosh's death and final wishes greatly impact Marion's life choices.
Genet: The daughter of a hospital worker, Genet grows up alongside the twins. Her romantic involvement with both Marion and Shiva creates tension between the brothers. She later joins the Eritrean liberation movement.
Matron: The stern but caring head nurse at Missing Hospital. She plays a significant role in the twins' upbringing and the daily operations of the hospital.
General Mebratu: A high-ranking Ethiopian military officer who becomes friends with Ghosh. His attempted coup and subsequent imprisonment impact the political backdrop of the story.
Quick facts
The novel took Abraham Verghese over 7 years to write
The title comes from the Hippocratic Oath, which begins “I will not cut for stone"
It spent over 2 years on The New York Times bestseller list
Former U.S. President Barack Obama included it on his summer reading list in 2011
The book has sold over 1 million copies worldwide
Verghese, like the main character, is an Ethiopian-born physician of Indian descent
The novel contains detailed descriptions of medical procedures, drawing on Verghese's expertise as a doctor
It was shortlisted for the 2009 Wellcome Trust Book Prize
Film rights to the book were optioned in 2012, with Susanne Bier set to direct
The story spans over 50 years of Ethiopian history, from the 1950s to the early 2000s
About the Author
Abraham Verghese is a distinguished physician, author, and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. Born in Ethiopia to Indian parents, he began his medical training in Addis Ababa before completing it at Madras Medical College. Verghese's career has taken him from rural Tennessee, where he encountered the AIDS epidemic, to prestigious positions at universities across the United States.
As an author, Verghese has penned both critically acclaimed memoirs and bestselling novels. His works, including My Own Country, The Tennis Partner, and Cutting for Stone, often draw from his experiences as a doctor and explore themes of displacement, loss, and the human condition. His latest novel, The Covenant of Water, was selected for Oprah's Book Club and remained on the New York Times bestseller list for 37 weeks.
Verghese is a passionate advocate for bedside medicine and the importance of the physical examination in patient care. He developed the “Stanford 25” initiative to teach fundamental physical exam skills to medical interns. His approach emphasizes the value of the physician's presence at the bedside and the importance of empathy in medical practice.
Throughout his career, Verghese has received numerous accolades, including the National Humanities Medal presented by President Obama in 2016. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Verghese continues to practice medicine, teach, write, and speak on the intersection of medical humanities and clinical practice.
