The Physician

The Cole Trilogy, Book 1

By: Noah Gordon

Narrated by: Richard Higgins

Length: 24 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

An orphan leaves Dark Ages London, taking a dangerous journey and posing as a Jew to study medicine in Persia, in "an adventurous and inspiring tale" (Library Journal).

A child holds the hand of his dying mother and is terrified, aware something is taking her. Orphaned and given to an itinerant barber-surgeon, Rob Cole becomes a fast-talking swindler, peddling a worthless medicine. But as he matures, his strange gift - an acute sensitivity to impending death - never leaves him, and he yearns to become a healer.

Arab madrassas are the only authentic medical schools, and he makes his perilous way to Persia. Christians are barred from Muslim schools, but claiming he is a Jew, he studies under the world's most renowned physician, Avicenna. How the woman who is his great love struggles against her only rival - medicine - makes a riveting modern classic.

The Physician is the first book in New York Times best-selling author Noah Gordon's Dr. Robert Cole trilogy, which continues with Shaman and concludes with Matters of Choice.

©1986 Lise Gordon, Michael Seay Gordon and The Jamie Gordon Trust (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

A fascinating story of a different time and place

Very absorbing and full of fascinating characters, set in a time and cultures I knew nothing about. The descriptions of the various ideas of healing in that time were fascinating to me.

Good Story Acceptable Narration

The narration isn't the best but it not too bad either, if you can make it through the first few chapters it'll pass. Great story full of historic events and figures, I liked that it was well researched.

Loved it

Only novel that made me like crying because it was over. Can’t recommend highly enough.

Well researched

I had to give The Physician 4 stars because it appeared to be so incredibly well researched. The story held my interest, but did not necessarily touch any emotions. One of the biggest drawbacks for me was that the narrator was very monotone which might work for some, but I did not find it that enjoyable to listen to. Particularly after listening to authors like Katherine Kellgren, Jill Tanner, etc. So 3.5 overall.

Simply wonderful storytelling.

I read this perhaps 25 years ago and wanted to experience it again. Still a wonderfully immerse story.

An interesting tale

I quite enjoyed listening to this on my daily commute. It was informative and interesting, though I don't know how historically accurate it might be.

The narrator was excellent, very clear and easy to understand. I very much enjoyed listening.

Totally transported

I felt as though I was on a Disney ride, totally immersed in the reality of a Middle Ages physician. His calling to the medical field felt true and compelling. His immersion into Middle Easy culture disguised as a Jew brought home the similarity of us all. Best of the decade!

Great Historical Fiction Book

Learned about early medicine and cultures as I listened to a good story. It is a long book, but I will listen to this story again someday!

Excellent!

This was an exciting tale of life during the dark ages. Amazing story that captivates a life that is not heard of today. While life was simple in this era, there were so many injustices that were not adjudicated by today's legal standard. Hard to imagine that this simplicity could result in so many tragedies. The narrator read spectacularly!. He could use his voice inflexions in so many ways and with so many different accents as needed to bring life to the story. I was deeply enthralled and could not stop reading and listening to each little detail. This particular narrator nailed his reading and made this story come alive like not many others I have heard. Awesome!!!

what a journey!

I loved this first of a trilogy and can't wait to start the second!
As hard as life may have been it seems magical and so intune with man and nature now that we skim along so detached and superficially.