Chaman [Paperback]

Noah Gordon (Author), Elsa Mateo (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 2006

In this family saga, Robert Jacobson Cole flees Scotland for America with his son Robert, also known as Shaman, to practice medicine and study the healing power of the Sauk Indians. Father and son are each drawn into the tumult of the American Civil War as tensions between the North and South explode. This vivid depiction of two men and the women they love is also the story of medicine as it emerges from the ancient past.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Noah Gordon is the author of Death Committee, Matters of Choice, The Physician, and Rabbi, which earned him the James Fenimore Cooper Prize for the best historical novel. He lives in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 768 pages
• Publisher: Ediciones B (June 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 849654642X
• ISBN-13: 978-8496546424
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.9 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,224,828 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a good story and very good characters, August 14, 2009

By 

Liliana Flynn "Liliana Flynn" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chaman (Paperback)

I like Noah Gordon books and this is one of the good stories.
A doctor during the American Revolution. If you like good reading and American History.You must read it.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From Scotland to Illinois!, August 7, 2008

By 

Maximiliano F Yofre "Maxi" (Buenos Aires, Argentina) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Chaman (Paperback)

My good friend Mario strongly recommended me "The Physician", even if he knew a physician's life wasn't my cup of tea.
I'm grateful he convinced me to read it. I was so trapped by Mr. Noah Gordon story that I went immediately to the bookstore and bought "Shaman" and "Choices".

IMHO "Shaman" is the best of the trilogy.

Since 2004 Ediciones B has launched a pocket book collection "Byblos" with no specific genre defined. Fortunately for us, historical novels buffs, some volumes pertain to this genre, allowing us to access a very inexpensive and high quality product.

This is the story of two members of the Cole family: Rob Sr. & Rob Jr.

The story, situated in the period around 1830-1870, starts following Rob Sr.'s life since his forced emigration from Scotland to America and is reconstructed thru his personal diary as discovered and read, after his death, by his son Rob Jr.
Rob Sr. initiates his medical practice at Boston's Irish ghetto and meets Oliver Wendell Holmes, precursor of medical prophylaxis.
Later he continues his migration going into Illinois and stopping at Holden's Crossing where he starts a new life as rural physician.
There he builds his home, start his relationship with the Sauk Native Americans people, fall in love, heal & marry Sarah, have a child who will contract scarlatina and lose his hearing.
At this point Rob's Jr. life is the second main thread of the narration, following his education and fervent desire to be a physician as his father.
Both threads will conflux at the Civil War period.

Historical reconstruction is paramount, showing domestic every day details, political issues, educational issues, medical issues and cultural issues with deepness and commitment. This aspect of the novel is by far better than the period reconstruction done by Mr. Gordon in "The Physician".

A much recommended read for those interested in historical subjects, daily life period reconstruction and medical practice. Enjoy this great novel!
Reviewed by Max Yofre.