“The Girl in His Shadow” is a well-researched historical novel written by Audrey Blake about a young female orphan, Nora Beady raised by a renowned surgeon, Dr. Horace Croft. Under the training of Dr. Croft, Nora had developed scientific knowledge and skills. But because of her gender, Nora could not study to be a doctor in repressive 1800’s London, though she was a better medical practitioner than most trained male doctors.

The authors did a lot of research in the clinical and medical aspects for writing this novel, and we will learn a lot about the practice of medicine in the nineteenth-century London. In addition, there is a romantic thread in the novel between Nora and Dr. Daniel Gibson. It is fun watching these two characters who are first rivals and then fight a losing battle against the intense attraction between them. I love the interactions between them, and the push and pull of their relationship along with love/rivalry are interesting to read.

At the end of the novel, Nora decided to follow her heart to become a surgeon and leave London to study medicine at the University of Bologna in Italy. Nora’s courage to realize her dream to study medicine moved me. This was not an easy decision, especially in an era when women were forbidden to become doctors. Following our heart to do what we want may lead us to an unconventional path. It may require us to rebel against societal or family expectations. It may be scary and involve taking risks. It may be a long and lonely road as well.

But we have to look at our life honestly as we can only live once. People may have beautiful dreams and desires. However, they may suppress them and convince themselves that they are not that important. But as Nora says in the book, “A marriage license is not a medical license, Dr. Croft. I am still hopeful I may obtain both.” Like Nora, we should be honest with ourselves and make the most of our life. We should ask what we really want from our life and then act on it. We need to take risks and have the courage to do things differently and to challenge the expectations that others hold of us. A life of following our hearts may be challenging, but the rewards will be worth it as we are mastering our lives. This book is inspiring and enlightening, and I HIGHLY recommend it.