• The Surgeon's Daughter

  • By: Audrey Blake
  • Narrated by: Susan Lyons
  • Length: 13 hrs and 24 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (492 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
The Surgeon's Daughter  By  cover art

The Surgeon's Daughter

By: Audrey Blake
Narrated by: Susan Lyons
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $21.49

Buy for $21.49

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Nora Beady, the only female student at a prestigious medical school in Bologna, is a rarity. In the 19th century women are expected to remain at home and raise children, so her unconventional, indelicate ambitions to become a licensed surgeon offend the men around her. Under constant scrutiny, Nora's successes are taken for granted; her mistakes used as proof that women aren't suited to the field.

Everything changes when she allies herself with Magdalena Morenco, the sole female doctor on staff. Together the two women develop a groundbreaking surgery: the Cesarean section. It's a highly dangerous procedure and the research is grueling, but even worse is the vitriolic response from men. Most don't trust the findings of women, and many can choose to deny their wives medical care.

Already facing resistance on all sides, Nora is shaken when she meets a patient who will die without the surgery. If the procedure is successful, her work could change the world. But a failure could cost everything: precious lives, Nora's career, and the role women will be allowed to play in medicine.

©2022 Jaima Fixsen, Regina Sirois (P)2022 Recorded Books

Editorial Review

Beyond historical fiction
It has been years since I’ve been on a historical fiction binge, and 2022 has beautifully given me an excuse to jump back in. I recently finished Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus and was looking for more female-led, STEM-inspired historical fiction when I found The Surgeon’s Daughter by Audrey Blake (the pseudonym of writing duo Regina Sirois and Jaima Fixsen). Set in the 19th century, the story opens with Nora, who dreams of becoming a licensed surgeon in a time when medicine is for men only. Nora travels from London to Bologna, Italy, where women are allowed to study. She soon discovers that being “allowed” to study has a price. With any mistake (perceived or real) held against her, can Nora prove them all wrong and develop new techniques to improve the groundbreaking cesarean section? I’ve been immersed from the first chapter, savoring each word and rooting for Nora’s success. — Patty C.

What listeners say about The Surgeon's Daughter

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    382
  • 4 Stars
    89
  • 3 Stars
    15
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    363
  • 4 Stars
    59
  • 3 Stars
    11
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    337
  • 4 Stars
    80
  • 3 Stars
    12
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!

Such a riveting story! Great story line catches your attention from the first story! So happy to have found these books.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

AnotherWinner

I found this book to be a compelling and riveting sequel to the first one.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An intelligent female wishing to study and learn medicine despite a very masculine world.

A very interesting story if a female desiring to learn and practice medicine. Well written and good narration. I felt it was well thought out and not overly dramatized. Very interesting and entertaining.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic.

This is the second book to this series and I’m so glad they weaved characters from the first in.
Great listen, sad it’s over. Book3??

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Women surgeon in the 19 century

Excellent story about women in the medical field in the 19th century who dare to study as surgeons.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great finish to The Girl in his Shadow

London in the late 1840’s and a young woman who was born to be a doctor— against all odds.
Great characters take this story to its destination.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story woven in with medical themes

If you are from a medical background or enjoy medical drama you will like this book. This book of fiction was likely all.too real for women of the mid 19th century.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

What a great story

Excellent all around! Well written clean romance it was a refreshing read about the struggle of women who wanted to be physicians.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

Just as good as the first book. And so we’ll read by the narrator. I wished it would never end.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • No
  • 02-03-23

The beautiful sequel to in his Shadow

Aftert reading In His Shadow, my review stated that I hoped for a sequel. and there it was. What a beautiful and well written story. The narration was excellent. I shall bring thinking of Elanora for quite some time!An amazing woman, achievements far beyond what society allowed women to simply dream of.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!