Beacon at Alexandria: Amazon.ca: Gillian Bradshaw: Books

Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

Two entries in Soho's Hera series of historical fiction ``by and about women'' set, respectively, in 12th century France and Republican Rome.

From Library Journal

When Charis learns that her father has betrothed her to the hated Roman governor Festinus, she enlists the aid of her brother and flees to Alexandria. There, disguised as a eunuch, she begins to study Hippocratic medicine under the tutelage of a patient Jewish physician. The young woman excels as a healer and her fame spreads. Political intrigues force her to frontier outposts of the Roman Empire where she practices as an army doctor. She succeeds in maintaining her disguise until she is captured and held prisoner by the Goths during their uprising against the Romans. Bradshaw has superbly re-created the political, social, and intellectual climate of the 4th century A.D. and the attitudes towards woman and medicine in this excellent work for most public libraries. Joan Hinkemeyer, Englewood P.L., Col.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.7 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book I've EVER read - And I do read a lot!, Nov 1 2007

By

Lodoiska (Qu�bec, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Beacon at Alexandria (Hardcover)

I first found this book (french copy) at an old used book store when I was 16; The synopsis intrigued me, so I bought it. What a great book! I've read it at least 8 times before offering it to a friend for him to read. He liked it so much he kept it! Since then, I've bought 3 other copies. And I only have one left... That one, I'm not lending to anybody!

The story is so well written, you get into the book right away. It has it all: Great setting in ancient Rome (wery well documented!), action, intrigues, war, suffering and joy, greatness, and above all, a heroine you can't help but to get attached to.

Just thinking about the story, I get goosebumps!

I can't praise it enough... Just read it for yourself, especially if you're a teen girl that has dreams that does not seem to fit with what other people expect of you...

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5.0 out of 5 stars Beacon at Alexandria, July 5 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Beacon at Alexandria (Paperback)

I first read this book in 1988 when I was 11 years old. At that time I thought it was the best book I had ever read.

It is a fantastic story with lots of good historical detail.
Whilst an enjoyable read for all age groups I suspect it may be more suitable for older children and teenagers than adults.

I eventually lost my copy of this book and as it went out of print I had to borrow a copy from my local library pretend to lose it and pay the resulting fine.

I recently rediscovered the book at my father's house and am planning to reread it soon.

What amazes me is that reading through the reviews some one else had exactly the same experience as me and also resorted to this tatic with the library.

Glad to see it back in print.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Good but not great, Sep 24 2001

By

lanoitan (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beacon at Alexandria (Paperback)

As a previous reviewer said, this was fun to read, but maybe because I read Noah Gordon's 'The Physician' just before, I did not feel this painted a Rembrandt-caliber picture. This was more Norman Rockwell-caliber, that is, fun and entertaining but not brilliant.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars fascinating historical account of a woman
In the late Fourth Century AD, young Charis dreams of becoming a doctor, a vocation forbidden to her because she is a woman. Read more

Published on Sep 6 2001 by Francesca Jourdan

5.0 out of 5 stars Can I give it 10 stars? Please?
This is, without a doubt, my favorite book of all time. I discovered it languishing in my high school library, not checked out in years, and after I read it I ran to the... Read more

Published on Jun 28 2001 by leosam116