Blood Doctor
Blood Doctor by Barbara Vine, published by Viking on July 2, 2002, is a novel that delves into the life of the First Lord Nanther, who sought to create an admiring posthumous biography as Queen Victoria’s favored physician. Known for his expertise in blood diseases, particularly hemophilia, he meticulously documented his life through letters, diaries, and medical essays. However, when the current Lord Nanther investigates his great-grandfather’s life, he discovers that the seemingly mundane records may hide deeper mysteries and anomalies, leading him to suspect that his ancestor’s account is far from complete.
Readers will find a narrative that intertwines the past and present, exploring themes of ambition, obsession, and the complexities of familial legacies. As Martin Nanther uncovers unsettling truths about his great-grandfather, he confronts the darker aspects of the blood doctor’s life, revealing a man burdened by guilt and secrets. The Blood Doctor presents a rich tapestry of personal and public life, set against the backdrop of the reform of Britain’s House of Lords, inviting readers to reflect on the intricate connections between history and identity. This edition spans 448 pages and is presented in English.
Official synopsis Publisher
The First Lord Nanther clearly hoped to be the subject of an admiring posthumous biography. Having built a name for himself as Queen Victoria’s favoured physician—expert on blood diseases, and particularly the royal disease of hemophilia—he fastidiously set about recording the details of his eminent life, carefully cataloguing every significant letter, diary and medical essay that he’d written, apparently offering himself up as an open book.
But when the present Lord Nanther begins to research the life of his great-grandfather, he soon realizes there is little of interest in his ancestor’s dry-as-dust account. Instead, he begins to suspect that these old records conceal more than they reveal as he comes upon mysteries and anomalies in almost every decade of his great-grandfather’s personal life. As Martin Nanther begins to catch glimpses of “some monstrous, quite appalling things” in the blood doctor’s past, he also realizes that Henry died a guilty man—carrying a horrific secret to the grave.
Set against the current reform of Britain’s House of Lords, which Martin Nanther witnesses at first hand with a kind of fascinated detachment, The Blood Doctor weaves effortlessly between the past and the present, public life and private life. The result is a superbly satisfying novel about ambition, obsession and bad blood.
“A story that glistens, sticks and unnerves.”—The Edmonton Journal
FAQ
What is “Blood Doctor” about?
Who is the author of “Blood Doctor”?
When was “Blood Doctor” published?
What is the ISBN for “Blood Doctor”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
