The Doctor

by Patricia Duncker

So begins The Doctor, a provocative, illuminating novel based on a true story about a brilliant female physician who is compelled to live as a man under the name James Miranda Barry. Patricia Duncker traces Barry's incredible life over the course of five decades and across three continents, from his cross-dressing child genius days to medical school in Edinburgh, Scotland; from his glorious career as a military surgeon to his adventures as a celebrated duelist and social figure known throughout the world.

This richly inventive and entertaining tale of dark family secrets, adultery, and colonial history is a transforming contemplation on the substance of gender, the power of will, and an unforgettable portrait of a brilliant mind.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Feminism, LGBT, British Literature, Queer, Gender

375 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Patricia Duncker attended school in England and, after a period spent working in Germany, she read English at Newnham College, Cambridge.

She studied for a D.Phil. in English and German Romanticism at St Hugh's College, Oxford.

From 1993-2002, she taught Literature at the University of Aberystwyth, and from 2002-2006, has been Professor of Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia, teaching the MA in Prose Fiction.

In January 2007, she moved to the University of Manchester where she is Professor of Modern Literature.

Reviews

[Zanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fictionalised account of the life of Dr James Miranda Barry, who is thought to have been a woman - it's certainly told that way here, though the historical note sensitively draws no conclusions about the gender of someone who cannot speak for themselves. Duncker imagines circumstances which might have allowed the boyish daughter of a woman disillusioned by her own wifely life experience to have been given independence and a breadth of opportunity only by living (disguised?) as a man; a harsh critique of the patriarchy of the times in itself. Duncker draws an enchanting character and weaves a tale richly ornamented with exotic locations and noble struggles.

The counterpoint to Barry is another kind of rebel; one of social class. Alice Jones, the scullery maid who makes good, is only able to do so by her courage, intelligence and unscrupulous enterprise, and with the rudimentary education she demands from Barry. I could not like Alice and felt that her 'vulgarity' was caricatured unnecessarily, but on reflection her character, entirely conceived by Duncker with no historical precedent, completes the radical subtext that makes this beautifully told tale so significant.

[Katerina · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF at 30%
Unengaging, despite the catchy topic; seemed bland and curiously overwritten, at the same time.
I’m team Virginia Woolf.

[Nancy Oakes]

Oh dear. I'm sorry, I just did not care for this book. I get what the author is trying to do here (and I'll post more about this book soon) but to say that it offers "an unforgettable portrait of a brilliant mind" is just not right. I know this, because I recently finished Dr. James Barry: A Woman Ahead of her Time.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

'James Miranda Barry' is a fictionalised account of the life of a real figure, a girl who grew up to be a man and lived as a well-known doctor. I haven't read his actual biography, but Duncker's afterword reveals that she deviated quite considerably from known facts in this novel. Most notably, she creates a lifelong friend and love for Barry, in the form of Alice Jones. Alice is the most vivid character in the novel and it made me sad to think that Barry had no such comrade and confidante in reality.

The novel itself is structured a bit oddly, to my mind, as it seems to dwell intensely on a particular time or relationship in Barry's life, then jump somewhat jarringly elsewhere and elsewhen (I know that isn't a word, but it ought to be. Or perhaps 'otherwhen' would sound better?). The narrative also shifts between first and third person, which is a little odd. I preferred the sections in third person. Nonetheless, I found the novel powerful and engaging, because James Miranda Barry is such a fascinating character. Duncker doesn't take the reader fully into his head, but still gives much more of an insight into Barry than anyone else gets. I found Barry's eccentricity and irascibility very sympathetic, especially in his fights to bring hygiene and similar innovations to Victorian colonial hospitals.

I've also read another of Duncker's novels, 'Hallucinating Focault', which I think was a more involving narrative but with a less memorable and appealing central character. I recommend both, though. Duncker is a very interesting novelist, who writes straightforwardly but with a great eye for details. As my mum coincidentally has a copy of James Miranda Barry's biography, 'The Perfect Gentleman', I am now planning to read that.

[Kit Goode · Rating 2 out of 5]

First things first: this novel is only very thinly based on the life of James Barry. Names, places, even the time line of the man's life has been altered, so please don't go into reading it as a factual sort of book. Inbetween the jarring switches of narrative (sometimes changing within paragraphs) and the puzzling motives of the protagonist, I did struggle somewhat- some of the characters were fantastic, and there were a fair few movie moments where Duncker managed to write some wonderful dramatic and pithy stuff.

If you have the time and are interested in the wonderful figure of James Barry, give it a whirl. It'll only take few hours. But don't go out of your way to read it.

[Joan · Rating 1 out of 5]

It gets off to a very bad start, the first chapter is written from the perspective of a child in the 19th century but the observations and language read more like the thoughts of a modern, middle-aged fan of television movies. Later in the book a fourteen-year-old “bites a new friend playfully on the nose" (REALLY). I suspect the author filled the pages with maddening anachronisms, clichés galore and florid phrasing on purpose; I just never understood why. She is apparently talented and there were captivating passages but overall I did not enjoy it.

[SnezhArt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Этим текстом хочется обмазываться, с ним хочется спать, его хочется перечитать вот прям сейчас. Он прекрасный, как XIX век.

[Judith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay so my main problem with this book is that he became a man because his mother wanted him to. He even wanted to become a woman again in his old age. Doesn't that kind of invalidate the view of this book as an exploration of transgender experiences?

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Любопытно, но уж очень писательница влюблена в своего персонажа. От этого он/она кажутся совсем какими-то неправдоподобными.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Een goed geschreven roman over een boeiende figuur.

[Kate Feline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Там, где могла бы быть история успешного противостояние женщины обществу, поиска себя и гендерной идентичности, находится бульварный роман с неверибельными персонажами и хромающей сюжетной линией.

[Misty Gardner · Rating 2 out of 5]

What can I say about this? I think my overall reaction has to be 'WHY?'. Why write a book of fiction about a real person which doesn't stick largely to the facts and ignores some of the more interesting elements of the original person? I would have liked this much better if the author had changed the name of the central character and made this a completely new story.

I have had cause over several decades to research the real James Barry MD as part of my professional work. They were totally mesmerising and I am not convinced that any of their numerous biographers have solved all of the myriad questions as to their true identity, either as to their parentage or their actual gender identity. This story ignores completely Barry's relationship with Somerset - surely a far more interesting set of circumstances than the invention of the fictitious Alice Jones - or the question as to whether Barry, if truly female, had given birth...

There are many types of historical fiction - that which sets fictional characters alongside real people, that which is wholly fictional and that which, like this, takes real people and puts them into a wholly different context being just a few of the permutations. Sometimes it can work but Barry's story is so 'larger than life' that I cannot see the point of reinvention on this scale.

The book is, on the whole, well written, but many people who are not familiar with Barry's real story may see this as being wholly factual which is a pity

[Eve Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alright, the book started off a little slow. Slow isn't the right word here. Okay, I didn't sink my teeth into it right from the beginning. I didn't get into it. Once it got going, it also got confusing. The story-telling here is a little allovertheplace. Alot, actually. So then I had to make myself get into it. "Focus!"
I'm glad I did because that's when it got good. I found I liked the protagonist and many of the other characters and I wanted to know where it all was heading. The ending saved alot and I enjoyed the last third of the book so much so I'm giving the book as a whole 4 *s.
Duncker has a unique way about me but I fight back sometimes. James Miranda Barry was worth it.

[Stefanie Mitchell Ebenal · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me, this book was very much about freedom and how gender, race, and social class affect what choices you can make, what careers you may pursue, and who you may become. I never fell in love with the character of James Miranda Barry, while I was fascinated with his life. I was left wanting more, perhaps knowing what he most desired towards the end of his life. I thought the author was going there at the end, but could've given me more.

[Natalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Читать этот текст - как будто слушать красивую лирическую литературно-музыкальную композицию. Замечательно передана атмосфера и пейзажи, очень здорово, что автор не углублялась в физиологические подробности и не стала додумывать за главного героя - мы так и не узнаем, что же он(она) чувствовал(а) все эти годы. Читатель тут - наблюдатель, который сам может сделать выводы о том, кто, все-таки, герой - она или он.

[Irene Powell]

I liked the story after about the first 3rd of the book. I prefer books that get my attention from the beginning, this one took a little while. However, it was worth it in the end. A novel constructed around a real person whose actual life created rumors that the author used to create an interesting possibility/novel.

[Sara]

The premise of this book caught my attention--a girl raised as a boy so that she could attend school and become a doctor. However, the flowery style of language that the book was written in was very distracting to me. I would've preferred a more straightforward story.

[Liza · Rating 3 out of 5]

смешанные чувства. написано классически, но хорошо, местами — очень. особенно тягучие описания местной флоры и фауны, погоды, всего осязаемого и телесного.

но сам персонаж Барри очень проблемэтик. главн_ая геро_иня — девочка, за которую в детстве решили — будешь мужчиной, потому что слишком жалко терять такой мозг в замужестве, и которая всю жизнь прожила в тайне и одиночестве, будучи великолепным военным врачом. для Данкер, видимо, это идеальная метафора одиночества и силы характера в целом, такого романтического добровольного отщепенца, гордого, смелого, талантливого, но всегда немножко грустного.

НО, как говорится, my culture is not your prom dress. судя по всему, это не трансгендерный персонаж, а условно травести, как написано в самой книге, но все же. никакой рефлексии транс*спектра нет. никаких даже описаний, как геро_ине жилось с месячными, с грудью, с вагиной — нет. просто мужчина, но с ЗАГАДКОЙ, которая чуть необычнее, чем у всех остальных, и которая, видимо, и продает роман. не хочу как-то дальше критиковать, потому что недостаточно хорошо знаю всё про трансгендерность, но мне было тяжело читать, ощущалось это все как-то неправильно. возможно, потому что писалось в 90-х, а читаю я в 2021-м. fight me

[Trounin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Когда читаешь вольное описание жизни известного человека, только и думаешь, чтобы минула чаша сия. Не знаешь, каким образом в будущем люди станут относиться друг к другу, каких вершин достигнет общество… или в какую пропасть оно упадёт. Разве думали люди XIX века о том, какими их станут показывать потомки спустя полтора столетия? Правильно говорят, что человек всегда мыслит образами, какими желает делать это именно он, невзирая на прочие обстоятельства. Поэтому писатели, на полном серьёзе, берутся рассуждать о былом, будто оно происходит согласно нравов современного для самих авторов дня. Попробуй в XIX веке написать нечто подобное, вроде затронутого Патрисией Данкер, как справедливо бы заслужил общественное порицание. Можно даже припомнить огорчения Золя, чей натурализм считался скандальным, хотя он даже близко не касался тем, вроде затронутых в псевдобиографии Джеймса Миранды Барри. Трудно припомнить произведение тех лет, в котором описывался процесс дефекации и мочеиспускания.

(c) Trounin

[Leah Oakes · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me quite some time to read through this novel. While very well-written, I found it to be extremely disjointed in plot. It could have easily been 6 different books in one. The plot jumps around too frequently to be an easy read, not to mention that the perspective of the narrative changes from first person to third-person. If it hadn’t been for the actual James Miranda Barry being an intriguing person of the past , I don’t think I would have continued the novel. I’m glad I stuck it out, though, because there were stretches of the novel where flow was easy to achieve. The most poignant part of this story is that his love, Alice Jones, was entirely fictional—one can only hope he experienced love that was not his work in real life! I appreciate the author’s afterword and the amount of research she performed to write this novel. In the end, the sum of the parts almost came together and ended on a satisfying note.

P.S. the first half of the book is filled with Shakespeare!

[Charlie Beaumont · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge admirer of Patricia Duncker's fiction and this book only served to add to my admiration. Based on a true story this novel provides the background to James's early childhood as a girl and his friendship with Alice Jones, a serving girl, and his subsequent adoption of a male role. He is supported to enter medical training, qualifies and then becomes a serving Army Officer as a medical practitioner.

He has various postings. This allows the consideration as to how medical care was provided to Army personnel and to various local populations.

James Barry is a forceful personality but at his core is determined to do his best by everyone.

This is a wide ranging and intellectually stimulating novel which anyone who enjoys reading historical novels will get much from. I wholly recommend it.

[Jean Brodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a strange book. The blurb on the back of the paperback says it "tells Barry's story for the first time" but it doesn't-it's largely invented by the author and changes basic facts about his life-although conversely at the end it copies some real letters -but changes details (not referenced as far as I could see).
I am interested in the true story-but not sure what the point of this book is, other than misinformation. If it is for fiction's sake, then why call it the name of a real person? However, it does look like the name of the book has now been changed to The Doctor, whereas my book is called James Miranda Barry

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really interesting read. This is a fictionalised account, of the real life of a 19th century doctor, who may have been a woman or a hermaphrodite. Much of the story is based on known details of Barry’s life, but the details are fleshed out, and motivations assigned. The book explores the restrictions of Georgian/Victorian society, particularly for women, and also the fraught emotions surround medical knowledge and empire at the time. The book is often unsettling, but also a deeply compelling read.

[Jana Levid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Очень здорово и очень мало.
Завораживающая история завораживающего человека, написанная приятным слогом, веющим истинно британской прохладой, но наполненным меткими и яркими описаниями и сравнениями. Я получила огромное удовольствие от прочтения и жалею лишь о том, что книга так быстро закончилась. Про такого человека, каким здесь изображен Джеймс Миранда Барри, хотелось бы читать и читать.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was fine. I enjoyed reading it until it became apparent that the crux of the plot, the cross- dressing gender transformation, wasn't really going to be addressed. No detail about how it felt, consequences, apart from a few lines at the end. So, it was just a book about a British military doc in the 19th century.

[Nastassja Piletskaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Невероятный затягивающий исторический роман о личности, со всеми перепитиями 19 века в Англии. Джеймс Барри удивительный врач, который работал в колониях и смог противостоять холере, а ещё любил, был джентельменом и хранил тайну.

[Julie MacKay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really my kind of book. A bit long and drawn out. Certain parts could probably be omitted to make it shorter. It's a 'literature' kind of book, I think, and probably quite cleverly written with the weaving together of themes. But I am not an appreciator of fine literature.

[jodie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a book I'd read again but then it's not my usual style of book. Very slow moving with a lot of intrigue, have to say that I even found the intrigue a bit slow.

[Regulus · Rating 4 out of 5]

удивительно, в скольких местах можно было опошлить эту историю - и автор этого не сделала, за что ей огромная благодарность

[Mona Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond the misspelled words, I found this an interesting story of a woman who lived her life as a man and a doctor, at that! Based on the life of James Miranda Barry. Highly recommended book.