Book description
Review: "The Doctors Blackwell" - A Riveting Portrait of Women Who Rewrote Medicine
Janice P. Nimura's The Doctors Blackwell is a tour de force that brings to life two extraordinary sisters who shattered the glass ceilings of their era and paved the way for modern women in medicine. Drawing on an impressive trove of letters, journals, and archival material, Nimura paints Elizabeth and Emily Blackwell not as distant historical figures but as vivid, feisty, and fiercely intelligent human beings.
From the very first page, we learn that Elizabeth's ambition was born before she even set foot in a lecture hall. The author shows how her relentless curiosity and unwavering resolve won over a skeptical medical establishment, culminating in her becoming the first American woman to earn an M.D. in 1849-a triumph that reverberated across continents. Emily, often eclipsed by her elder sister's legend, emerges as a brilliant physician in her own right; Nimura deftly balances their individual strengths with their shared mission.
What makes this biography so compelling is the way it explores the sisters' complex partnership and the tension between their personal convictions and the broader women's rights movement. Their founding of the New York Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children-a hospital staffed entirely by women-was a bold statement about female capability and compassion. Yet, Nimura does not shy away from depicting moments when Elizabeth and Emily disagreed, revealing that even pioneers wrestle with internal conflict.
Nimura's prose is clear and engaging, avoiding dense academic jargon while still conveying the depth of her research. The narrative weaves through 19th-century Europe-Bristol, Paris, Edinburgh-and the burgeoning American cities, giving readers a panoramic view of the cultural forces that shaped these trailblazers.
In sum, The Doctors Blackwell is an inspiring and meticulously researched account that celebrates two sisters whose courage and vision redefined what women could achieve in medicine. It reminds us that progress often comes from those willing to challenge convention-and that the legacy of such pioneers continues to inspire new generations.
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Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience