Product Description
Michael Kind, descendiente de judíos criado en un barrio marginal de Nueva York, se debate entre el antagónico legado recibido por su abuelo y su educador, y el proporcionado por su padre. El abuelo le trasmitió su conciencia de pertenencia a la comunidad judía, mientras que su educador se encargó de la enseñanza religiosa. Como contrapunto a esa instrucción anclada en los orígenes de su pueblo, Michael conoció de la mano de su padre a valorar la libertad y a atreverse a cuestionar las normas. Las dos caras de esa formación se reflejarán en la vida de Michael adulto, quien decidirá convertirse en un rabino tolerante y abierto, dispuesto a enfrentarse a todos aquellos obstáculos religiosos y sociales que se opongan a su relación con una mujer que no pertenece a la comunidad judía. / Michael Kind was a rabbi, but he was also a man. A man who couldn't help that his heart led him to Leslie, a beautiful minister's daughter. Defying parents and teachers, they dare to love one another and build a life together, in this sweeping drama of love and identity, compassion and crueltly, and a complicated world that will not accept their decisions. ... Read more

Product Description
This dazzling epic describes an 11th century man's passion to defeat illness and death, to alleviate the pain of his fellowman and to share the near-mystical gift of healing that has been bestowed upon him. His journey leads him through the brutality and ignorance of England and the sensual turbulence and splendor of Persia.There he meets Avicena, a legendary master who is experimenting with the first tools of modern medicine. A millennium has elapsed since then, but the narrative talent of Noah Gordon makes this startling journey a unique experience which brings the story to life.

Blurb in Spanish: Esta deslumbrante epopeya describe la pasión de un hombre del siglo XI por vencer la enfermedad y la muerte, aliviar el dolor de sus semejantes e impartir el don de sanar, casi místico, que le ha sido otorgado. Esta pasión le lleva desde la brutalidad y la ignorancia de la Inglaterra de su época a la sensual turbulencia y el esplendor de la Persia remota, donde conoce al legendario maestro Avicena, que está experimentando con las primeras armas de la medicina moderna. Nueve siglos han transcurrido desde aquel entonces, pero el talento narrativo de Noah Gordon hace de este viaje iniciático una experiencia única, que convierte la historia en vida real. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Excellent
This was the first book that I read from Mr. Gordon. Just excellent, I been reading the hole Cole's saga, after this book, Mr. Gordon is one of my favorite writer.

In Search of Knowledge: from England to Persia and Back.
My good friend Mario strongly recommended me this book, even if he knew a physician's life wasn't my cup of tea.
I'm grateful he convinced me to read this book; it is a very good one to be sure!
The curious story about this novel is that it was first a success in Germany and Spain before booming at the USA.

First I'll point out the less successful aspect of the opus: the historical period reconstruction doesn't sound fully accurate. I'm not sure why this happens, may be due to very modern view point of the main character, to some characters name and/or some doubtful historical issues.

That said, nevertheless, "The Physician" is a valuable and gripping read and once you start with it you can't stop!
The story, situated around year 1050, follows Robert J. Cole's life from boyhood until he is around 40 years old.
Rob & his brothers are orphaned while they were very young. Carpenter's Guild helps them finding new homes. Rob is left in charge of Barber, a barber-surgeon, as his apprentice and joins his new master in his wandering life.
In a way that makes me remember Gelsomina in Fellini's movie "La Strada", Rob learn how to perform as entertainer, medicine seller & surgeon.
He also discovers he possess a strange Gift, he is capable to sense when a person, apparently ill or not, is nearing death.
Some experiences in this nomadic life, awake Rob's desire to become a physician in order to help suffering people better.
He learns that in Ispahan (Persia) exists a great teaching place with Avicenna as its most conspicuous doctor.
There is only on big obstacle: Persians are Muslims and confronting Byzantine Christians, son no Christian will be admitted. What to do? Rob decides to go there and pass as a Jew, as Jews are tolerated.
After Barber's death he starts a two year journey traversing all Europe and learning how to pass as a Jew. He will soon discover that is not so easy to be a Jew.

Here starts the most fascinating part of the story with a gripping cavalcade thru an exotic world!

A recommended read for those interested in historical subject and more specifically in medieval life and medicine.
Reviewed by Max Yofre.

Magnificent story
Noah Gordon has done a superb job of drawing the reader into this 11th century story. Historical facts and practices of the time are carefully interwoven into the main story. The book spans quite a long period of time, but at no point does the reader get bored with the pace of events. I read the book in Spanish and was delighted with the colourfulness of the language used and how the story developed throughout. I would highly recommend this book to anybody interested in novels of the time, as well as all those simply interested in a good story.

The best novel
The Physican is probably the best historical novel I've read.Noah Gordon is a superb writer. In fact, I've reread it and even enjoyed it more the second time.I've read everything that Noah Gordon has written.The same accolades go for all his novels! Read and enjoy!

Este es ya un clasico de la historia de la medicina.
Muy interesante, ya que yo soy medico en Inglaterra y conozco los lugares hablados, describe a la perfeccion la figura de cirujano-barbero (Mister), caso unico ingles, diferente del medico (Doctor), de aqui la diferencia actualmente entre los "misteres" y los "doctors" ingleses. Y como ambos reconocen que uno no esta completo sin el otro, por ello "Mr" Cole decide hacerse tambien un "Doctor" a un precio tremendo, mas o menos lo que he vivido yo 1,000 anhos despues. Cole tenia la oportunidad de estudiar medicina en Espanha (Salamanca, Alcala y otras), Salerno (Italia) o Bagdad, ya que las universidades de medicina eran Arabes, prefirio irse a Bagdad y estudiar con Avicena. Yo personalmente tambien cruze el mundo para estudiar medicina en Alcala de Henares. A leer este libro que es de lo mejor que he leido. ... Read more

Product Description
Noah Gordon nacio en Worcester (Massachusetts) en 1926. Tras licenciarse en Periodismo y Letras en la Universidad de Boston inicio una intensa labor de articulista que le llevo a colaborar con The Boston Herald y The Worcester Telegram. Antes de dedicarse a la escritura de relatos epico-historicos ejercio de periodista especializado en medicina. El reconocimiento internacional le llego con El medico novela que iniciaba la saga de la familia Cole. En la actualidad vive con su esposa Lorraine en Brookline Massachusetts con la que tiene cuatro hijos. Agnostico y aficionado a la pesca de rio es autor de obras que son indiscutibles best-sellers. En octubre de 2007 publico en Rocaeditorial La bodega. ... Read more

Product Description
Noah Gordon nacio en Worcester (Massachusetts) en 1926. Tras licenciarse en Periodismo y Letras en la Universidad de Boston inicio una intensa labor de articulista que le llevo a colaborar con The Boston Herald y The Worcester Telegram. Antes de dedicarse a la escritura de relatos epico-historicos ejercio de periodista especializado en medicina. El reconocimiento internacional le llego con El medico novela que iniciaba la saga de la familia Cole. En la actualidad vive con su esposa Lorraine en Brookline Massachusetts con la que tiene cuatro hijos. Agnostico y aficionado a la pesca de rio es autor de obras que son indiscutibles best-sellers. En octubre de 2007 publico en Rocaeditorial La bodega. ... Read more

Product Description
From the author of "The Physician" and "Shamen", this is the final book in the trilogy. Set in the present, R.J. Cole has inherited the family "gift". After a miscarriage and the death of her boyfriend, she embarks on a career in medicine. Her life changes when she is faced with a terrible dilemma. ... Read more

Product Description
La doctora Cole es una mujer de nuestro tiempo. Tiene cuarenta anos, ha sufrido un divorcio reciente y ejerce su profesion, la medicina, con dedicacion absoluta. Fiel a la tradicion familiar, que ha hecho de la medicina un sacerdocio, la doctora R.J. Cole decide dejar Boston para volver al campo y trabajar como medico rural. Ahi, en las colinas de Massachussets, podra recobrar ese don de adivinacion tan peculiar que ya distinguio a sus antepasados y volvera a descubrir aquellos placeres que la gran ciudad le habia arrebatado./The first time Roberta Jeanne defies her beloved father is when she is born a female; the second, when she chooses to study law rather than medicine. Yet destiny is to overtake her when R.J. realizes that she has inherited The Gift. As she holds the hands of a sick man, R.J. feels a dreadful certainty that he is going to die; tragically, he is her own lover. ... Read more

Product Description
Un grupo de médicos conocidos como ""El comité de la muerte"" se reúne para revisar aquellos casos que acabaron con la defunción del paciente para valorar si esas muertes podrían haberse evitado y para impedir que se repitan nuevos errores. Para tres de sus miembros -jóvenes brillantes unidos por una misma ambición y dedicación apasionada a la práctica de la medicina- comienza un periodo que resultará decisivo en sus vidas. / At Suffolk County General Hospital, three brilliant young men are brought together by their ambition and passionate dedication to life. But they work in the shadow of the Death Committee, a formidable hospital tribunal where doctors sit in judgment of their peers, deciding who is to blame when a death could have been prevented. During an unforgettable year of love and fear, failure and victory, the young doctors must face the crucial dramas and triumphs of hospital life. ... Read more