This book starts off very slowly.
The main character is so strong and determined.
It talks a lot about women’s rights
A good historical fiction book

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me at 28%. I found I wasn't gripped by the story and could not get invested in the book. I'm sure this is a case of it's me and not the book as I've seen some great reviews for it.

I am a fan of historical fiction and the level of research that has gone into this book and development of characters is evident. However. I just really struggled with the pace of the story and found it took me a long time to read.

It is 1865 and the American Civil War has just ended. Vita has been obsessed with medicine and anatomy since she was a little girl and, now an adult, she is determined to become a country doctor. Just like her father. Unfortunately, her father does not share her dreams and refuses to fund her or sponsor her. He does, however, agree to a very generous dowry if Vita agrees to settle down and marry. Enter Jacob: in desperate need of money to pursue a dream shared by himself and his best friend, he stumbles upon Vita and, together, they hatch a plan to satisfy both their needs. Or does it?

I loved Vita's character; I loved her determination to succeed and achieve her dream, with or without the support of her family, particularly the men. I loved seeing her at work and how it wasn't all sunshine and roses for her. She really does see the worst of life's illnesses and diseases and some of the descriptions were quite harrowing. I have to say though, I really enjoyed this aspect of the book and it helped it to seem true to life and authentic to have such graphic descriptions. But she does also have wonderful moments where she gets to see the best of life's wonders. And this was nice too.

Seeing Vita's struggle to become a doctor and her struggle to be took seriously in this ambition was frustrating to say the least. During this era, medicine was seen as a domain belonging exclusively to men and their masculine brain: female brains couldn't possibly cope with the demands of being a doctor. So of course seeing Vita defying these stereotypes was a delight!

All in all, a very engaging and compelling historical fiction. Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and Martha Conway for an opportunity to read and review this book.

Thanks Netgalley and Bonnier Books for access to this arc

After loving “The Underground River/aka The Floating Theater" some years ago, I was excited when I got approved to read this book. Then I somehow got the wrong date in my mind for when it was to be released in the US and completely missed the boat. Then I realized that the book is 480 pages long. But I flew through it as “The Physician’s Daughter” seemed to read itself and I’m delighted to have read about Vita and Jacob.

It’s now late 1865 and the US is still, in ways, reeling from the last five years of civil war. Vita Tenney and her family were sure that her older and beloved brother Fred was going to make it only to have him die of an infection when the Army surgeon decided not to amputate. The family is stunned and hurting. Fred was the joker and the one whom his father had determined would follow in his footsteps to become another doctor. Fred cheerfully acknowledged to Vita that she was better for this, their mother (also an intelligent woman but one whose dreams had been thwarted) knows her eldest daughter is smart but Vita’s father refuses to even consider Vita attending medical school. Vita has argued and tried to persuade him to no avail.

Then Jacob Culhane returns to town. After running away from his drunken father, learning a trade and starting a business in Ohio, Jacob joined the Union forces only to discover that, as General Sherman said, “War is hell.” He survived the battles and he survived, against the odds, Andersonville. Now he wants to sell the family farm and try to develop the idea that a fellow prisoner, who saved Jacob’s life, dreamed of doing. When he arrives back in Massachusetts, a different fate awaits. As a single man – and one without outward injuries – he’s bombarded with women – single and widows. With one, though, he comes to an agreement; they’ll split her father’s money to help start his business in exchange for allowing her to attend medical school. But of course things aren’t going to be as easy as that.

This is more historical fiction but it does have a romance in it. The historical aspects are wonderful evoking the setting and the age. Vita is strong willed and determined but also flawed with self doubt. Jacob is a survivor who tries to hide the tremors and whose dreams take him back to the horrible POW camp. Their marriage of convenience occurs fairly quickly in their relationship and way before they ever had a chance to truly get to know each other. Unfortunately for them both, Vita has become so used to hearing “no” and fighting against it that she jumps the gun without talking to Jacob.

Now the two are faced with deciding what to do. Vita hasn’t given up her dream and perseveres with the help of the only man who would probably be willing to assist her gain the experience that a person hoping to attend medical school in that age would need. But despite his amazing bedside manner and teaching abilities, he’s also haunted by what happened in the war. And when Vita discovers something, her pain over the loss of her brother strikes again. Jacob is stunned at the turn of events and now wondering what he wants to do. He and Vita might not have courted long and had a short engagement, but he still thought they might have something they could live with and build on.

What I liked first is that both Vita and Jacob have to really think about what they want from life. It’s thrown them some hard curveballs and kicked the stuffing out of them more than once. Are their dreams what they still want and even if so, do they have the strength to keep going after those dreams? They’re backed by some wonderful secondary characters – some fully fledged and others given nutshell descriptions that tell us all we need to know about them. What else I liked is that Vita doesn’t end up storming the doors of a medical school to get her way. When her chance to interview arrives, she uses her brains, some hutzpah, and skills learned from those who taught her to try to make her case.

The ending is hopeful rather than settled. This is 1866 and for people willing to think big there are opportunities. For women who decide not to take a “no” as the final answer, there are chances. For a couple who started out with a business arrangement, there might just be more from a marriage than they ever imagined … or hoped for. B+

I was offered a chance to review The Physician's Daughter as I had read, enjoyed and reviewed Martha Conway's previous novel The Floating Theatre (or Underground River in the USA).

The Physician's Daughter is very much in the same vein - a young woman during the 19th Century goes it alone in a patriarchal society. And does it well. The daughter of the title - Vita is a fearless heroine, determined to overcome all the men in her life to become a Doctor. There is also a second thread of her husband Jacob Culhane, suffering from PTSD after his experiences in the American Civil War,

This historical details are meticulously researched, with quotes from historical medical texts at the beginning of each chapter. On reading this I really felt Vita's desolation and hopelessness as followed her dreams of becoming a Dr, where it was her sex that was always considered, not her capability.

A must for all fans of historical drama, thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for inviting me to read this.

I was first introduced to Martha Conway’s writing when I read The Floating Theatre back in 2017. There are echoes of the theme of that book, a young woman having to make her own way in the world, in The Physician’s Daughter. A neat touch is the inclusion at the beginning of each chapter of quotations from books and periodicals dating from the period. Some of these are laugh out loud funny for their outrageously outdated views on the role of women and the ‘trials’ of marriage.

I confess I found the book very slow to begin within. For me the most compelling part was Jacob’s story. I felt his experiences during the Civil War and its aftermath allowed the author to explore the impact of war not just on the individuals involved but on their loved ones. For Jacob, the memories of what he saw and endured as a prisoner of war have taken a heavy psychological and emotional toll. ‘He woke up shaking and sweating, his heart thundering in his chest.’ (I’ll confess the existence of the Confederate prison of war camp at Andersonville and the atrocities that went on there was new to me.) Although the project he and his friend, killed during the war, planned to pursue together provides him with a degree of focus, he is resigned to leading a rather solitary life… until he meets Vita.

I admired Vita’s determination to follow her dream in spite of the opposition of her father and the limitations placed on women’s independence by society. The spiteful remarks of her sister, Amelia, don’t help either. At times I became frustrated that Vita was so easily swayed by the comments of others, often just snatches of overheard conversations. Having arrived at an arrangement that might offer the freedom she seeks, her misinterpretation of a chance remark results in her making a series of rash decisions. There were a number of occasions where I wanted to say ‘Vita, don’t do that!’ or ‘You’ve got it all wrong’.

Vita’s family has also been affected by the war. Her father is consumed by thoughts of what might have been and, ironically, Vita’s ambition to become a doctor, following in his own footsteps, only makes his anguish worse. Meanwhile Vita’s mother seeks other ways to dull the pain of loss whilst being more supportive of Vita’s desire to make something more of her life than just marriage and motherhood.

Vita definitely grows as a character as the book progresses. In particular, she is very open to acknowledging her strengths and weaknesses, recognising that there is more to being a doctor than memorising conditions and medication; listening – really listening – to your patients is important too. This really comes home to her in some dramatic scenes towards the end of the book.

The outcome I’d hoped for eventually does come about and the book concludes on a hopeful note. I was left with the sense that although Vita’s pursuit of her ambition is going to be an uphill task with the right support she will get there.

This is out now! If you are a fan of historical fiction as I am, you will want to read The Physicians Daughter by Martha Conway. This book takes place right after the end of the Civil War, a time period that I want to learn more about. I admired the character of Vita, smart and strong-willed, she is determined to follow her dream of becoming a doctor even though she is well aware that most women aren’t in that field and it’s an uphill battle. Even her own father isn’t supportive of his daughter’s goals. He just wants to marry his daughter off to any man who will have her which made me so angry!

I was instantly drawn to the plot (and the time period), take a look:

It is 1865, the American Civil War has just ended, and 18-year old Vita Tenney is determined to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a country doctor like her father. But when her father tells her she must get married instead, Vita explores every means of escape – and finds one in the person of war veteran Jacob Culhane.

Damaged by what he’s seen in battle and with all his family gone, Jacob is seeking investors for a fledgling business. Then he meets Vita – and together they hatch a plan that should satisfy both their desires. Months later, Vita seemingly has everything she ever wanted. But alone in a big city and haunted by the mistakes of her past, she wonders if the life she always thought she wanted was too good to be true. When love starts to compete with ambition, what will come out on top?

If you love historical fiction, you won’t want to miss this novel. Out in September!

This is an enjoyable historical fiction set during the American Civil War. While this historical period is not my favourite, the author does a great job supporting the period with the cast of characters and interesting plot line. If you are a historical fiction reader and looking to branch out into this period I would recommend this novel.

I've always loved historical about women doing work about breaking glass ceilings, and this was just fantastic!

A gripping and riveting book about a woman who decided to live according to her own terms in a historical time when women role was marrying and having babies.
Vita is a well rounded and fascinating character, a strong woman ready to face difficulties in order to achieve her goals.
The plot is well crafted even if a bit slow at the beginning. Well researched and vivid historical background, great characters.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

It is the end of the Civil War. Vita Tenney is a bright and studious young woman determined to study as a doctor, despite all the obstacles in her way. Her father is determined for her to become a wife and mother. Vita finds a coconspirator in Jacob, a war veteran struggling with what we would call ptsd today. Jacob needs money to start up a new business dreamed up by a now deceased comrade. Vita needs money to pay for an apprenticeship and education since her father won’t pay. So they decide to get married and split the dowry money. Things don’t quite go as planned but Vita does find her way to an apprenticeship where she finds that being a doctor might be harder than she anticipated.

This book was not what I was expecting. It was slow paced especially at the beginning. I expected a story of a tenacious woman who took life in her own hands and made her dreams come true. And then grew a thriving practice as by far the best doctor in town and paved the way for future young women who dreamed of being doctors. Instead, a quarter of the way through Vita was still whining to her father about why he should allow her to go to college and learn to be a doctor. When she finally does acquire an apprenticeship the story skips around to what her husband and parents are doing.

In the end it was a fine story, just not what I was expecting. I did grow to like the characters and if I had different expectations going in I probably would have liked it better.

3 stars

At the end of the Civil War Vita Tenney is determined to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor however she is going to find this hard. Not only is her father determined to marry her off to anyone who will have her, but she is living in a time where no college of medicine is accepting female students. When she meets Jacob Culhane she finds someone who is willing to help her achieve her goals whilst also getting her father off her back.
Vita is an intriguing character. She is not the typical female of the time, happy to get married and have children and spend her time doing charitable things. She is smart and wants to make a difference. Encouraged at an early age to study with her brother, she develops an interest in medicine and science and wants to follow in her father’s footsteps. She knows this is not going to be easy, especially as her father shows the attitudes of the time and absolutely refuses to assist her in her quest.
After her marriage when her future appears threatened she goes out on her own and secures a place training with a doctor that knew her brother. It is only then that we actually see the doubts in her ability creep in as she is faced with the practicalities of her chosen profession. She knows the texts inside out but putting it in to practice really is a different matter. When circumstances put her in the middle of an accident, we really see what she is made of. Her friendships with her family maid Gemma and the son of the woman she lodges with give some of the lighter moments within the book especially when Vita and Gemma are discussing ways to avoid pregnancy.
Jacob is haunted by his experiences in the war and the prison camp that followed and through some chapters we see exactly what he was put through during this time where he lost his closest friends. It is only when he meets Vita that some of his nightmares subside, and he sees her as a way to achieve his own goals in the changing world. Although he says that he wants to support Vita there are times that his actions and words do not show this and like Vita you can’t be sure if this is how he really feels or if he is keeping up a pretence dependant upon the company they are in at the time.
The Physician’s Daughter has a slow-paced start whilst we are getting to know the characters and the period of time it is set in but as you get further in you find you get more invested in the lives of Vita and Jacob and the things they have to overcome in order to make their way in the changing landscape. This is a book that highlights the way that women and their roles were perceived, the fights for change without becoming either preachy or sentimental and one that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The price of finding your own way as a smart woman in the 19th century. This is a great book but sadly depressing In terms of how smart women were treated and in some cases, still are. It was a page turner and I read it through in a day.

The book was a decent read because of the main character Vita. Her determination and ability not to compromise made her a modern woman during a time where women were subject to their husbands. The ending was dramatic in that a lot happened quickly . That was a bit overboard since some of the book dragged at times then all of a sudden a lot happens in a few pages . The book has some light moments but mostly this book deals with war, loss , death , post traumatic stress , how women were thought to be inferior and grief .

An easy to read story with a character to love! This post-Civil War story pulls you in and keeps you reading from the beginning.

This book had a very slow start for me. It does take place during the American Civil War which I was not really prepared for as, personally, I am not a fan of this time period. I loved that Vita moved against the grain and wanted this career for herself and not to fall into societal expectations of marriage and children. There was a lot of growth for her throughout the story and the ENDING was phenomenal. It would be a wonderful read for anyone who truly loves this historical time period.

After a slow start which may well have been my own fault in not giving myself time to read and get in to the book but picking it up and falling asleep after a chapter, I really fell in love with this novel.
Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War this book gives us a perspective from the point of view of a young woman who has lost thanks to the war, whose work is dominated by the effects of this war and who everyone she meets, but more so the men are profoundly changed by the previous years of fighting. Much like the two World Wars for the USA the civil war had the affect of stripping communities of their young men and those men either never returning or coming back physically and mentally scarred for life.
Vita our wonderful protagonist would, had her brother returned from the war, been a physician’s daughter and a physician’s sister. An intelligent girl who had to find secret opportunities to stretch and challenge herself but Freddy’s death sets her on the path to join the small but growing number of female doctors in America.
I loved every character in this book, even the ones we only met through the memories of those who survived them. Vita was not some 21st century feminist blazing into a male dominated world and instantly conquering it but was a realistic and fully faceted 19th century young woman following her dreams with all the courage and naïveté that entails. The heading of each chapter is a genuine line or two taken from an historical book or paper with a male author giving his authoritative views on the capabilities of women as a sex and as Vita follows her dream, specifically his opinion on the ability of a woman to become a Dr. These are by turns hilariously funny and achingly sad. Our ability to laugh at them comes from years of women before us, including the likes of Vita and the suffragettes fighting constant battles to get us where we are with today’s equality. And yet still we fight on for the women to come after us!
This novel could have been simply about female Drs, or simply a feminist story of a woman’s right to choose a career over the expected marriage and children. It could have been a novel about the after effects of war and the burdens it leaves those who survive it. It could have been a nice family drama or a saccharine love story but somehow Martha Conway manages to make it all of that. I love Vita’s friendship with Gemma and their girlish quest to find out about sex and how to prevent getting pregnant.

The ending for me was just perfect though the denouement was totally unexpected it was fabulous. A must read for those who love historical fiction.

What a wonderful female protagonist Vita is. I thoroughly enjoyed the depiction of her being small and mighty and trying to break through the constraints of living as a woman in the male-dominated world of the 1800s.
The writing was exceptionally detailed and atmospheric, and the pacing was good.


I received this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The beginning of this novel started slowly but once it picked up, this book was very well written and immersive. I enjoyed the story and the main character's struggle. Vita was delightful and I appreciate the feminist slant of this novel set in a time when women had very few rights and becoming a female doctor was a laughable ambition.