The story begins in 371 AD and is told in first person by Charis of Epheseus, a young noblewoman from a wealthy family. Charis is a strong, intelligent character and chafes at women's traditional roles. In order to escape marriage to a brutal Roman official, Charis (now called Chariton) disguises herself as a eunuch and flees to Alexandria where she can pursue her dream to study the Hippocratic method of medicine at the famous Museum and become a physician.

This book is a highly entertaining adventure filled with political intrigue, early Christian theology, and little bit of romance near the end. This is a gender disguise novel that was very credible. As a woman one of the questions that I always pops in my head when reading these types of stories is "What does she do about her period?" :) This issue was addressed several times and I found it very interesting and believable. The accounts of medicines, diseases, treatments, food, clothing, slavery, and Roman politics and society are told in lively detail and was fascinating. Bradshaw is a classics scholar and she crams in many historical characters but it never seemed forced. My greatest difficulty was trying to decipher all the Greek and Latin names which all started to sound alike sometimes (e.g. Adamantios, Athanaric, Athanaricus, Athanasios, Amalberga, Alaric, Thorion, Theodoros, Theogenes, Theophilia, etc.)

Chariton meets agent Athanaric and saves his life. Then Athanaric saves her life when she gets involved in dangerous church politics and is forced to flee Alexandria. Still maintaining her disguise she accepts the position of chief physician at a remote army post in Thrace. Eventually, she is captured by the Goths and her gender is revealed. But as their prisoner she continues to care for the sick and wounded until Athanaric rescues her. In the final pages even though they learn of the disastrous battle at Hadrianopolis, the book ends happily when they admit their love for each other and make future plans.

The politics in Alexandria were a bit heavy, but when Chariton is posted to Thrace the book really gets lively and I had a hard time putting it down and read late into the night. This was a great historical adventure story and I recommend it to all history buffs like me. (Grade: B+) ( )

Charis, a well-born daughter of the eastern Roman Empire, is fascinated by medicine. To escape an unwanted marriage, she disguises herself as a eunuch and goes to Alexandria to become a doctor.

A wonderfully written historical novel. ( )

Charis, a well-born daughter of the eastern Roman Empire, is fascinated by medicine. To escape an unwanted marriage, she disguises herself as a eunuch and goes to Alexandria to become a doctor.

A wonderfully written historical novel. ( )

In einer aufregenden Zeit des Umbruchs, am Ende des 4. Jahrhunderts, erlebt die junge Charis ein abenteuerliches Schicksal. Um einem machtgierigen Stadthalter zu entgehen, muß die schöne, heilkundige Frau fliehen. Als Mann verkleidet gelangt sie nach Alexandria und avanciert ausgerechnet zum Militärarzt. Wegen ihrer besonderen Heilkunst wird sie verehrt - bis sie sich haltlos in einen Mann verliebt. Ein hinreißend erzählter Roman, der eine turbulente Epoche farbenprächtig ausgestalte

Historical novel of a woman seeking a medical education during later years of Roman empire.