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.