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My Name Is Mary Sutter

A Novel

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About this listen

 In this stunning historical novel, Mary Sutter is a brilliant, headstrongmidwife from Albany, New York, who dreams of becominga surgeon. Determined to overcome the prejudices against womenin medicine—and eager to run away from her recent heartbreak—Mary leaves home and travels to Washington, D.C. to help tendthe legions of Civil War wounded. Under the guidance of WilliamStipp and James Blevens—two surgeons who fall unwittingly inlove with Mary’s courage, will, and stubbornness in the face ofsuffering—and resisting her mother’s pleas to return home to helpwith the birth of her twin sister’s baby, Mary pursues her medicalcareer in the desperately overwhelmed hospitals of the capital.Like Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain and Robert Hicks’s TheWidow of the South, My Name Is Mary Sutter powerfully evokesthe atmosphere of the period. Rich with historical detail (includingmarvelous depictions of Lincoln, Dorothea Dix, GeneralMcClellan, and John Hay among others), and full of the tragediesand challenges of wartime, My Name Is Mary Sutter is an exceptionalnovel. And in Mary herself, Robin Oliveira has created atruly unforgettable heroine whose unwavering determination andvulnerability will resonate with readers everywhere. Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Medical Women's Fiction

Critic Reviews

"A vivid romantic novel about love, medicine, and the Civil War, My Name is Mary Sutter features an indomitable, memorable heroine whom the reader will root for until the very end."—David Ebershoff, author of The Danish Girl and The 19th Wife

"Think of Mary Sutter as a northern Scarlett O'Hara without the man-killer good looks for feminine wile... [Oliveira] peels back Mary's vulnerable, human side in this intriguing slice of Civil War history."—USA Today

"[A] riveting saga about trying to break a 19th-century glass ceiling."—Good Housekeeping

"Oliveira's debut novel is magnificent historical fiction."—Bookpage

"Compelling voice ... [Oliveira] does a splendid job of reminding us how much the known world has changed ... and how much has not."—Oregonian

"Oliveira deftly depicts the chaotic aftermath of battles and develops her own characters while incorporating military and political leaders of the time. The historic details enrich the narrative without overshadowing Mary's struggles. This well-written and compelling debut will engage all readers of historical fiction, especially those interested in the Civil War."—Library Journal

"The language is beautiful and the story will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout."—(Albany) Times Union
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