Fall '12 Reading Group List
“On the eve of the Civil War, Albany midwife Mary Sutter desperately wants to be a surgeon. When Dorothea Dix puts out a call for nurses, Mary leaves her family behind and rushes to Washington. Told from the point of view of nurses, family members, and politicians, this novel is an enthralling, exquisitely crafted debut, a story for lovers of historical fiction as well as anyone who believes in the power of the human spirit.”
— Erin Kurup, Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany, NY
May 2010 Indie Next List
“On the eve of the Civil War, Albany midwife Mary Sutter desperately wants to be a surgeon. When Dorothea Dix puts out a call for nurses, Mary leaves her family behind and rushes to Washington. Told from the point of view of nurses, family members, and politicians, this novel is an enthralling, exquisitely crafted debut, a story for lovers of historical fiction as well as anyone who believes in the power of the human spirit.”
— Erin Kurup, Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany, NY
Description
A moving, New York Times bestselling novel about a young Civil War midwife who dreams of becoming a surgeon
Chosen by Good Housekeeping as a Top 10 Good Read
Mary Sutter’s story continues in Winter Sisters, coming February 2018 from Viking
Fans of Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks, Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier, and Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini will love this New York Times bestselling Civil War tale.
Mary Sutter is a brilliant young midwife who dreams of becoming a surgeon. Eager to run away from recent heartbreak, Mary travels to Washington, D.C., to help tend the legions of Civil War wounded. Under the guidance of two surgeons, who both fall unwittingly in love with her, and resisting her mother’s pleas to return home to help with the difficult birth of her twin sister’s baby, Mary pursues her medical career against all odds.
Rich with historical detail—including cameo appearances by Abraham Lincoln and Dorothea Dix, among others—My Name Is Mary Sutter is certain to be recognized as one of the great novels about the Civil War.
About the Author
Robin Oliveira holds a BA in Russian, and studied at the Pushkin Language Institute in Moscow. She received an MFA in writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and is also a registered nurse, specializing in critical care. She lives in Seattle, Washington. The New York Times bestseller My Name Is Mary Sutter is her first novel.
Praise For…
"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
"The title of Robin Oliveira's historical novel, My Name is Mary Sutter, perfectly evokes its eponymous heroine's style: clear, determined, and, unline most women of the Civil War era, unapologetically direct."—O, The Oprah Magazine
"Oliveira's graceful, assured portrayal of a courageous woman shines through in her outstanding debut novel... [an] impressive historical epic."—Booklist
"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