What is Surgeon of Royaumont about?
A young Australian woman on the battlefields of World War I finds her calling through her work as a surgeon - and her legacy in compassion. Based on real-life characters and events this thought-provoking novel is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit amidst the ravages of war.
As one of only a handful of female medical graduates working at the Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, Clara Heywood refuses to be denied the chance to become a surgeon because of her sex. As her male colleagues, including her unofficial fiance Edward, head off to war, Clara grapples with a sense of her own unfulfilled purpose. In defiance of her own family and all convention, she leaves for France to work at the Scottish Women's Hospital at Royaumont Abbey, a hospital managed entirely by women on the Western Front.
There, under the tutelage of Miss Frances Ivens, Clara is thrust into the brutal realities of war, the technical intricacies of surgery and the profound ethical and emotional toll it exacts. Surgery tests not only her skills but her values and Clara discovers that her greatest adversaries are not the wounds of war but the internal conflicts that shape her understanding of humanity, and the heavy burden of her own ambition.
Clara's journey transcends the confines of history, embodying the timeless struggle for identity, purpose, and humanity amidst the horrors of war, and bringing to light the courage and sacrifice of women.
PRAISE FOR THE SURGEON OF ROYAUMONT:
'In a novel equal parts heart-wrenching and fascinating, Susan Neuhaus tells a riveting story of the hurdles and entrenched and internalised misogyny female doctors faced in their efforts to serve their countries during WWI. Filled with unforgettable characters and moments, made more so because of her own experience as both an army officer and surgeon in contemporary war zones, this is imbued with an insider's knowledge. An important book that shines a grim light on the battles never spoken about, and the unsung heroines who waged them.' - Karen Brooks
'Neuhaus shines a light on Australia's unsung medical heroines with meticulous historical detail. Stunningly told.' - Victoria Purman