Elizabeth Blackwell: First Woman M.D. (Barnard Biography) [Paperback]

Nancy Kline (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1997 | Series: Barnard Biography

Victorian Society recoiled at the thought of a woman learning about the human body. Yet in 1847, Elizabeth Blackwell was determined to become a physician--one who would not just improve the practice of medicine, but would also provide desperately needed medical care for the women of her time. Author Nancy Kline vividly re-creates Blackwell's world and her struggle to gain knowledge and acceptance in the closed, males only world of medicine.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up. Setting the stage for Blackwell's story is a foreword delineating the limitations of American medicine in the early 1800s and how much women suffered at the hands of male physicians, who practiced without standards. Onto this scene, from a close-knit family of Dissenters who emigrated from England, came a single-minded young woman determined to become a surgeon. A few physicians rallied to her cause, becoming sponsors, but no medical schools would admit her?except, eventually, Geneva Medical College of Western New York, and that was actually the result of a joke. The many personal and professional hurdles that Blackwell had to overcome in order to succeed are clearly put forth in this lively, well-documented narrative. Kline is particularly adept at placing her subject in the context of her social and intellectual milieu, her teaching career, and the community of medicine during her lifetime. This motivational biography makes thrilling the struggle of women joining forces to be recognized in a society totally controlled by males. A satisfying and eminently readable presentation.?Susan F. Marcus, Pollard Middle School, Needham, MA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 5^-9. From the Barnard Biography Series celebrating "heroic women" comes this well-researched biography focusing on the first woman doctor in America. The many changes of scene and of fortune in Blackwell's life, combined with her penchant for seeking new challenges, make her a lively biography subject. Appearing within the narrative are excerpts from Blackwell's journal and letters. They give a fresher sense of her voice and personality than one might otherwise glean from reading an account of her life. Carolyn Phelan

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Red Wheel / Weiser (March 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573240575
• ISBN-13: 978-1573240574
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #906,402 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Kline provides illuminating glimpse into Blackwell's life, April 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Elizabeth Blackwell: First Woman M.D. (Barnard Biography) (Paperback)

Nancy Kline provides an illuminating glimpse into the life and work of Elizabeth Blackwell, and does service to the memory of Dr. Blackwell by doing so. She accurately and fairly portrays the struggles that Dr. Blackwell overcame to become the first woman MD. Kline's prose is perfectly suited for the young adult reader, sufficiently complex to be thought-provoking, but also lucid. I gave this book as a gift to my 13-year old sister, and after she read it she shared it with her friends and all of the family!