Testimony of Two Men [Mass Market Paperback]

Taylor Caldwell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 12, 1984

Someday the town of Hambledon might forget the lies they told about their brilliant young doctor. But they could never forgive the truths he told about them.
From this compelling story of a doctor at war with the world he has been taught to heal, Taylor Caldwell has fashioned a novel of an unforgettable, angry idealist -- a novel in which the drama of new medical frontiers becomes part of a sweeping chronicle of love, death, desire, and redemption.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Someday the town of Hambledon might forget the lies they told about their brilliant young doctor. But they could never forgive the truths he told about them.
From this compelling story of a doctor at war with the world he has been taught to heal, Taylor Caldwell has fashioned a novel of an unforgettable, angry idealist -- a novel in which the drama of new medical frontiers becomes part of a sweeping chronicle of love, death, desire, and redemption.

About the Author

Taylor Caldwell (1900~1985) was one of the most popular American writers of her era. Her best-known works include Dear and Glorious Physician and Captains and the Kings.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Fawcett (May 12, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 044920572X
• ISBN-13: 978-0449205723
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,150,583 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Read, Even If You're Not A Doctor, December 1, 2003

By 

Katie (Lafayette, LA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Testimony of Two Men (Hardcover)

I chose Testimony of Two Men from a list of choice novels in my English class. Having never heard of Caldwell previously, I decided to give her "medical novel" a try in hopes that it would shed some light on my future profession. In this particular novel, Caldwell applies her understanding of the Christian Bible to depict the absurdity of a popular American conviction - that the testimony of two men is true (John 8:17). This obvious allusion serves as one of the novel's prominent themes, hence its title. The main character, Jonathon Ferrier, affirms the prevalence of truth in the most unlikely forms. Other themes include the traitorous nature of humanity when "the going gets tough" and its reluctance to accept change, even if for the better.

Caldwell subtly employs symbolism in her acknowledgement of a nearby island known as "Heart's Ease." While one character asserts that only a woman could have named the tract with such sentimentality, the reader can assume that the name merely stands for a place of respite, quite possibly heaven. A motif of "the future" develops as the characters begin to weigh the long-term consequences of their actions. This device plays into the novel's stream-of-consciousness effect and offers some coherency regarding Ferrier's occasional flashbacks. Caldwell's fascinating authorship exhibits impressive medical accuracy, and her in-depth character development capture the imagination. Just when it seems that matters could not worsen for Jon, she incorporates an unexpected plot twist and further heightens the reader's interest.

As an aspiring physician, I found inspiration in Ferrier's quest to modernize the medical field. Some chapters tended toward redundancy, but this one negative aspect is overshadowed by Caldwell's extraordinary use of drama and conflict as she unveils an intriguingly darker side of society's advancement into the modern medical era. After reading Testimony of Two Men, anyone would be as adamant as I am about locating a copy of the 1977 film adaptation.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and inspirational book---, August 20, 2002

By 

Delia Estrada (Los Angeles, California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Testimony of Two Men (Hardcover)

This book, which I originally read in the seventies, at the age of 12,completely mesmerized me. I still remember finish the book, and immediately turning to page one to begin reading it again. To this day it is one of the most satisfying reads of my life. Idealistic, intellectual challenging, romantic, this book is intensely honest about the human creature and their foibles and passions. Detailed in it's character development, and with an intricately laced story line, it is truly one of the great novels ever written. I have spent the past 15 years looking for a copy of the mini-series, and only hang on to my dog-eared copy for solace. Does anyone knows if a VHS copy of the mini-series is available? Could anyone be contacted to air the mini-series again? I will wait patiently.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Testimony of Two Men, December 28, 2005

By 

Judy G. Howard (Palm Springs, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Testimony of Two Men (Mass Market Paperback)

I have a few books that I will never part with and which I read over and over again - Testimony of Two Men is one of these books. It is also on my recommended reading list to friends and family. Every few months I check to see if the mini-series has "finally" been released on VHS or preferably on DVD. This is a terrific book and worth the time spent reading it. Enjoy.