Just Finished Reading: The Way of All Flesh by Ambrose Parry (FP: 2018) [423pp]

Edinburgh, Scotland 1847. Young medical student Will Raven can hardly believe his luck. To be picked as apprentice to Dr Simpson, one of the city’s great surgeons, was quite an honour and one he hopes to be able to live up to. But beyond the sense of honour is the real potential to make money – something he needs desperately to pay his debt to a local money lender. No matter what happens at least he has managed to avoid becoming a common surgeon, operating on those who can afford his services but knowing that his expertise comes at the cost of pain and the very real possibility of death. Raven has seen surgeries performed before and has no intention of becoming just another butcher. His career path, or so he hopes, offers greater opportunity. His new mentor is a leading light in the field of obstetrics and offers a gold platted invitation to the great families of the city. But his mentor also has other interests – the new science of anaesthesia. The relief of pain, most especially in childbirth, is his driving passion. But the search for a safer method than the use of Ether is cut throat – almost literally. Whoever discovers such a safer method could become not only rich but the talk of the age. Sometimes, with so much at stake, morality comes second place to such endeavours. Starting out in such a profession, with so much changing all around him, will test Will to his limits. Such testing is not helped by his encounters with Dr Simpson’s maid, Sarah Fisher. Not only is she far more intelligent than her position would warrant she has also taken an instant dislike to the new apprentice. Raven is going to have his work cut out for him if he is going to prosper under Dr Simpson.

I’m always looking out for something a little ‘different’ in my historical reading. Most 19th century historical novels are almost inevitably located in and around London. Having this based in Edinburgh was a nice change. Also this is very much a medical mystery/crime novel rather than the standard murder fare I’m more used to. Inevitably (being me!) it prompted me to at least think about researching the history of medicine – especially anaesthesia – which I’ve only the haziest knowledge of. Of course we take these things for granted so it's difficult to believe sometimes that operations, even as ‘recently’ as 1847, were regularly performed without ANY anesthetics! No wonder so many people died on the operating table. Apart from the blood and the anguish of the patients this captivating novel is replete with details of the primitive nature of medicine in that age – including the ‘examination’ of female patients (by men naturally as women could not practice medicine) either in the dark or behind sheets, in other words by feel alone! Added to the lack of pain killers and the ignorance of germ theory it’s a wonder that anyone survived any medical procedure! The atmosphere of the city is brilliantly brought to life as is the growing demand for an increased role for women beyond service and childbirth. The era in which this novel resides was one of change or burgeoning change and this is visible on every page. With my known focus on characterisation I was pleased by just about everyone represented here. Raven himself took a little getting used to because of his naivety as much as anything else but this was more than made up for by the great character of Sarah. I am looking forward to meeting them both again in future novels in this series. Definitely recommended if you don’t mind blood (or various other body fluids) on or in your shoes!