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Doctor Margaret's Sea Chest: Book 1 of The Azadi Series
“Doctor Margaret’s Sea Chest” is Book I of a series covering India’s struggle for freedom from the British Raj. American Doctor Margaret's sea chest is discovered in a hospital in Delhi. The coffer contains her diaries and other artifacts. Margaret, despite facing tremendous obstacles, is one of the first American women doctors to graduate in 1850. She marries her Canadian cousin. They travel to serve in the 1854 Crimean war. There they have to not only face hardships of battles, but also endure other conflicts. The surprise ending of Book I, leaves Margaret in a quandary on whether to seek revenge or to continue on with her journey to India.
394 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2008
77 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Waheed Rabbani
13 books24 followersWaheed Rabbani was born in India and introduced to English novels in his father’s library. Many of the books were purchased at ‘garage sales’ held by departing British civil service officers during the Raj.
Waheed graduated from a university in England, and obtained a master’s degree and a Creative Writing Certificate in Canada. He is now settled, on the shores of Lake Ontario.
Waheed’s first novel, Doctor Margaret’s Sea-chest is Book I of a trilogy of historical fiction, set during India’s struggle for freedom from the Raj.
In 1965, a century old sea chest is discovered in a hospital in Delhi. An American doctor, Sharif, is entrusted with the task of locating and returning the trunk to the owner’s relatives. Sharif tracks down Doctor Margaret’s descendants in Canada. Her diaries and other artefacts are found in the coffer.
Margaret, born in New Jersey, becomes, in 1850, one of the first American women doctors. She travels with her husband to serve in the Crimean war. There they face hardships of battles, and also endure other conflicts.
From events leading to and after the infamous Charge of the Light Brigade, Margaret meets a Russian officer. The surprise ending of Book I leaves Margaret in a quandary, on whether to seek vengeance or continue on her journey to India.
Waheed graduated from a university in England, and obtained a master’s degree and a Creative Writing Certificate in Canada. He is now settled, on the shores of Lake Ontario.
Waheed’s first novel, Doctor Margaret’s Sea-chest is Book I of a trilogy of historical fiction, set during India’s struggle for freedom from the Raj.
In 1965, a century old sea chest is discovered in a hospital in Delhi. An American doctor, Sharif, is entrusted with the task of locating and returning the trunk to the owner’s relatives. Sharif tracks down Doctor Margaret’s descendants in Canada. Her diaries and other artefacts are found in the coffer.
Margaret, born in New Jersey, becomes, in 1850, one of the first American women doctors. She travels with her husband to serve in the Crimean war. There they face hardships of battles, and also endure other conflicts.
From events leading to and after the infamous Charge of the Light Brigade, Margaret meets a Russian officer. The surprise ending of Book I leaves Margaret in a quandary, on whether to seek vengeance or continue on her journey to India.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 27, 2009
Waheed (Wally) Rabbani covers a very interesting period in history in this first of a trilogy of novels. The sweep spans the Underground Railway into Canada, the Crimean War, Dickensian London, the Indian Revolution of 1857 (quite overshadowed in recent times by the one in 1947 that led to that country's independence), the Charge of the Light Brigade (I did not know that it was a spectator event, where a viewing gallery watched the carnage in the valley below), Darwin's Theory of Evolution, and even Florence Nightingale. In addition, the modern part of the story, set in the 1960's, pits those eternal cold war warriors, the CIA and the KGB, in a hunt for the lost diaries of Doctor Margaret. This book therefore, is a thoroughly engaging adventure, with liberal doses of love, betrayal,loss,suppression, emancipation, war, espionage and great historical detail of life in the 1800's in Upper Canada, the neighboring states in America, India, England and Europe.
Doctor Margaret and the narrator Doctor Wally (sometimes I wonder if the author is referring to himself, and if there is more fact to this book than fiction) are well drawn characters with many parallels between them: stoic, bold, both Americans who married Canadians residing in Grimsby, Ontario which also seems to be the epicentre of this tale spanning the centuries, and both who have a connection with India. By appearing to him as a ghost, Margaret is luring Wally into uncovering and revealing the story of her life through the diaries that have been lying in her abandoned sea chest - a story that connects Wally's ancestry and heritage to Margaret's life in India.
The plot moves fast and over multiple locations, and the back story is revealed through a combination of dialogue, diary and investigation. I found the dialogue a bit too proper at times and wondered whether that was reflective of the colonial era, or the colonial writer?
Book #1 documents Margaret's life in Grimsby, England and the Crimea, but doesn't quite get us to her Indian period, yet also hints to a Russian period to follow. For that we will have to wait for books 2 and 3. Therefore, the end left me hanging, as Wally (the writer)did not complete the puzzle: Margaret's life, and death, still remains a mystery.That said, I will eagerly await book #2...and #3.
Doctor Margaret and the narrator Doctor Wally (sometimes I wonder if the author is referring to himself, and if there is more fact to this book than fiction) are well drawn characters with many parallels between them: stoic, bold, both Americans who married Canadians residing in Grimsby, Ontario which also seems to be the epicentre of this tale spanning the centuries, and both who have a connection with India. By appearing to him as a ghost, Margaret is luring Wally into uncovering and revealing the story of her life through the diaries that have been lying in her abandoned sea chest - a story that connects Wally's ancestry and heritage to Margaret's life in India.
The plot moves fast and over multiple locations, and the back story is revealed through a combination of dialogue, diary and investigation. I found the dialogue a bit too proper at times and wondered whether that was reflective of the colonial era, or the colonial writer?
Book #1 documents Margaret's life in Grimsby, England and the Crimea, but doesn't quite get us to her Indian period, yet also hints to a Russian period to follow. For that we will have to wait for books 2 and 3. Therefore, the end left me hanging, as Wally (the writer)did not complete the puzzle: Margaret's life, and death, still remains a mystery.That said, I will eagerly await book #2...and #3.
November 4, 2009
I am somewhat on the fence with this one. On one hand, I really enjoyed Margaret's story. A young woman in 1840s early America and Canada wanting to break all the rules and become a doctor really appeals to me. On the other hand, however, the other parts did about a male doctor in the 1960s didn't interest me that much. His character was likeable, but his parts had a James Bond type feel to them, partly due to the 1960s setting and partly due to the action and mystery and Russians with guns. I kept expecting his pretty Indian nurse or the Russian bookseller to throw themselves at him.
While Walli is trying to transport and solve the mystery of the hundred year old sea chest and dodging either bullets or avoiding car chases, the book takes us back to 1841 and Margaret wanting to be a doctor as well as having a forbidden romance with her cousin, Robert. I like Margaret's parts, but I must question some of the content. At a battle reenactment in 1841, she thinks of cotton candy. Cotton candy was not invented until 1897. I also question her going off with men and riding unescorted and unchaperoned in 1847. Young, unmarried ladies did not do that back then, most especially, minister's daughters.
However, there was enough excitement and history to keep me intrigued. I enjoyed the romance between Margaret and Robert and I also liked reading about how Margaret ignored all the naysayers (mainly her parents) and became a doctor despite of all the hurdles in her path. Despite the historical innaccuracies and the modern day feel, I really liked her story. The Indian history merged with it very nicely.
Whereas Margaret's story could have used some tweeking as far as the cotton candy and running around unescorted and other things that stood out (Did they have water BOTTLES back then? How is it that Margaret's aunt seems familiar with her kids, but hasn't seen Margaret in years?) , Walli's parts were enriched with impeccable research. This author knows his Indian history.
While Walli is trying to transport and solve the mystery of the hundred year old sea chest and dodging either bullets or avoiding car chases, the book takes us back to 1841 and Margaret wanting to be a doctor as well as having a forbidden romance with her cousin, Robert. I like Margaret's parts, but I must question some of the content. At a battle reenactment in 1841, she thinks of cotton candy. Cotton candy was not invented until 1897. I also question her going off with men and riding unescorted and unchaperoned in 1847. Young, unmarried ladies did not do that back then, most especially, minister's daughters.
However, there was enough excitement and history to keep me intrigued. I enjoyed the romance between Margaret and Robert and I also liked reading about how Margaret ignored all the naysayers (mainly her parents) and became a doctor despite of all the hurdles in her path. Despite the historical innaccuracies and the modern day feel, I really liked her story. The Indian history merged with it very nicely.
Whereas Margaret's story could have used some tweeking as far as the cotton candy and running around unescorted and other things that stood out (Did they have water BOTTLES back then? How is it that Margaret's aunt seems familiar with her kids, but hasn't seen Margaret in years?) , Walli's parts were enriched with impeccable research. This author knows his Indian history.
July 4, 2009
Doctor Margaret’s Sea Chest by Waheed Rabbani
Margaret, the main character, fascinates me from the beginning of this novel to the end. As a lovely child she charmed me with her inquisitive mind. As a young woman she impressed me with her determination to become a doctor when society adamantly blocked women from seeking careers in male dominated fields. This beautiful Margaret, this strong willed, capable, quick-witted, and resourceful woman, repeatedly triumphs over tremendous challenges to become an inspiring and admirable female role model in her time in history and in ours.
Waheed Rabbani successfully creates a persuasive tale filled with international plots and guarded secrets. This story connects readers with characters living in 1965 as well as with characters that lived more than a hundred years before. American doctor Wallidad Sharif is originally from Delhi. He has returned to his birth country on a one year medical contract. When the assignment nears its end, he is asked to do a fascinating task. An ancient and securely locked sea chest has been discovered in a hospital storage room. It is believed to be over 100 years old, the property of one of America’s first female doctors, Dr. Margaret Wallace. Will Dr. Sharif take possession of her sea chest and try to locate her descendants in the United States and in Canada? Dr. Sharif and his wife Alexandra accept this intriguing undertaking and are soon thrown into a web of danger and conspiracy, being pursued by Russian agents, related to a priceless hidden royal crown, authentic war maps, and remarkable events of history not recorded in modern day history books.
I highly recommend this book. It is the first in a trilogy, and its author Waheed Rabbani masterfully delivers. He is a new literary voice worthy of your attention. I anxiously await the second novel in this trilogy.
Margaret, the main character, fascinates me from the beginning of this novel to the end. As a lovely child she charmed me with her inquisitive mind. As a young woman she impressed me with her determination to become a doctor when society adamantly blocked women from seeking careers in male dominated fields. This beautiful Margaret, this strong willed, capable, quick-witted, and resourceful woman, repeatedly triumphs over tremendous challenges to become an inspiring and admirable female role model in her time in history and in ours.
Waheed Rabbani successfully creates a persuasive tale filled with international plots and guarded secrets. This story connects readers with characters living in 1965 as well as with characters that lived more than a hundred years before. American doctor Wallidad Sharif is originally from Delhi. He has returned to his birth country on a one year medical contract. When the assignment nears its end, he is asked to do a fascinating task. An ancient and securely locked sea chest has been discovered in a hospital storage room. It is believed to be over 100 years old, the property of one of America’s first female doctors, Dr. Margaret Wallace. Will Dr. Sharif take possession of her sea chest and try to locate her descendants in the United States and in Canada? Dr. Sharif and his wife Alexandra accept this intriguing undertaking and are soon thrown into a web of danger and conspiracy, being pursued by Russian agents, related to a priceless hidden royal crown, authentic war maps, and remarkable events of history not recorded in modern day history books.
I highly recommend this book. It is the first in a trilogy, and its author Waheed Rabbani masterfully delivers. He is a new literary voice worthy of your attention. I anxiously await the second novel in this trilogy.
August 12, 2009
Dr. Margaret is the extraordinary fictional character, whose life mirrors many dramatic events of history well worth being recalled. This is especially true for the Indian struggle for freedom during 19th century.
The story connects different events of history from different places and times, weaving a fascinating tapestry, which provides readers with vivid pictures of 19th century life in North America, Great Britain, Ukraine (during the Crimean War) and India as well as more recent impressions of life during the 1960s in the U.S. and Canada.
Personally I liked the historical parts even better. I found their characters more compelling and their stories - told by Dr. Margaret in her diaries - more intense and powerful. So I'd recommend this book especially for everyone interested in international 19th century affairs.
The story connects different events of history from different places and times, weaving a fascinating tapestry, which provides readers with vivid pictures of 19th century life in North America, Great Britain, Ukraine (during the Crimean War) and India as well as more recent impressions of life during the 1960s in the U.S. and Canada.
Personally I liked the historical parts even better. I found their characters more compelling and their stories - told by Dr. Margaret in her diaries - more intense and powerful. So I'd recommend this book especially for everyone interested in international 19th century affairs.
February 1, 2010
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the story of Doctor Margaret’s Sea Chest written by Waheed Rabbani. This book is a debut novel and the first in his trilogy. Mr. Rabbani’s book keeps you engaged from beginning to end as he allows you to journey back and forth between the mid-1800’s and 1965 in Delhi, India and other parts of the world. The story discusses the lives of Dr. Margaret Wallace and Dr. Wallidad Sharif. Dr. Wallace wanted to be a doctor since-- she heard the minister first tell the story of doctor’s helping sick children in India and receiving her first doctor’s kit from her aunt and uncle—as her mother mocked her occupational desires. I applaud her for standing strong against those who felt during that time a woman shouldn’t be a doctor.
Mr. Rabbani is a talented storyteller guiding us on a journey with a first person account of the history of the Indian Rebellion and the role Dr. Margaret Wallace, an American born doctor from New Jersey, played in both the rebellion and Dr. Sharif’s family history. It connects these two doctors although they never met in the present.
American doctor, Dr. Sharif, is in Delhi on assignment in the 60’s and at the end of his contractual term, he is asked to return an abandoned sea chest belonging to Dr. Wallace back to her family. The chest is 100 years old, in good condition, and hasn’t been opened since it was left in a closet at a hospital in Delhi. No one knows the contents as they feel it is disrespectful to open it prior to it being passed on to Dr. Wallace’s surviving family members allowing them to search the contents. The chest peaks the interest of Russian agents forcing Dr. Sharif to give them a fake chest in place of the real one they wanted resulting in a violent altercation during the meeting with the Russian agents. Luckily, the real chest is shipped to Dr. Sharif’s home safely.
Dr. Sharif tracks her descendants back to Canada and accompanied by his wife, he returns the unopened chest to Dr. Wallace’s family. Upon entering the home, Dr. Sharif realizes a picture in the home happens to be the woman that has been visiting him in his nightmares—Dr. Margaret Wallace. Once the chest is opened, it unmasks hidden treasures, artifacts, and Dr. Wallace’s diaries. The stories in the diary connect Dr. Wallace and Dr. Sharif through ancestry and her life spent in India.
Mr. Rabbani paints a picturesque journey through various places during different moments in history all the while the stories remain poignantly vivid. I could see the clothing, smell the spices, see Dr. Wallace’s well-kept chest, and visualize each character as I eagerly turned each page. This book is alive with-- mystery, suspense, conflict and love—along with a piece of history I never learned about in school, splashed throughout. I recommend this book and anxiously await the next book in the trilogy.
Mr. Rabbani is a talented storyteller guiding us on a journey with a first person account of the history of the Indian Rebellion and the role Dr. Margaret Wallace, an American born doctor from New Jersey, played in both the rebellion and Dr. Sharif’s family history. It connects these two doctors although they never met in the present.
American doctor, Dr. Sharif, is in Delhi on assignment in the 60’s and at the end of his contractual term, he is asked to return an abandoned sea chest belonging to Dr. Wallace back to her family. The chest is 100 years old, in good condition, and hasn’t been opened since it was left in a closet at a hospital in Delhi. No one knows the contents as they feel it is disrespectful to open it prior to it being passed on to Dr. Wallace’s surviving family members allowing them to search the contents. The chest peaks the interest of Russian agents forcing Dr. Sharif to give them a fake chest in place of the real one they wanted resulting in a violent altercation during the meeting with the Russian agents. Luckily, the real chest is shipped to Dr. Sharif’s home safely.
Dr. Sharif tracks her descendants back to Canada and accompanied by his wife, he returns the unopened chest to Dr. Wallace’s family. Upon entering the home, Dr. Sharif realizes a picture in the home happens to be the woman that has been visiting him in his nightmares—Dr. Margaret Wallace. Once the chest is opened, it unmasks hidden treasures, artifacts, and Dr. Wallace’s diaries. The stories in the diary connect Dr. Wallace and Dr. Sharif through ancestry and her life spent in India.
Mr. Rabbani paints a picturesque journey through various places during different moments in history all the while the stories remain poignantly vivid. I could see the clothing, smell the spices, see Dr. Wallace’s well-kept chest, and visualize each character as I eagerly turned each page. This book is alive with-- mystery, suspense, conflict and love—along with a piece of history I never learned about in school, splashed throughout. I recommend this book and anxiously await the next book in the trilogy.
February 15, 2010
DOCTOR MARGARET’S SEA CHEST
“Doctor Margaret’s Sea Chest” takes the reader on an intriguing journey spanning India, the U.S. and Canada complete with encounters with the KGB and the FBI. Along the way there is romance, intrigue, treachery and adventure. In short, there is a never a dull moment in this first book of a historical fiction trilogy.
The novel alternates between the perspectives of Doctor Wallidad Sharif in the 1960’s and Doctor Margaret Wallace (one of the first female doctors in the U.S.) in the 1850’s. Both perspectives are effectively presented. But, as the novel progresses, Margaret’s perspective comes to the fore and carries the plot. In his portrait of Doctor Wallace, Waheed Rabbani paints a vivid picture of a determined woman ahead of her time. A shocking development late in Book 1 reveals yet another side of this intrepid heroine.
All of this is played out against the backdrop of historical events. I can’t comment on the accuracy with which these events are portrayed but they certainly ring true. If you enjoy historical fiction, I highly recommend “Doctor Margaret’s Sea Chest”. It’s a compelling tale from a skilled novelist.
“Doctor Margaret’s Sea Chest” takes the reader on an intriguing journey spanning India, the U.S. and Canada complete with encounters with the KGB and the FBI. Along the way there is romance, intrigue, treachery and adventure. In short, there is a never a dull moment in this first book of a historical fiction trilogy.
The novel alternates between the perspectives of Doctor Wallidad Sharif in the 1960’s and Doctor Margaret Wallace (one of the first female doctors in the U.S.) in the 1850’s. Both perspectives are effectively presented. But, as the novel progresses, Margaret’s perspective comes to the fore and carries the plot. In his portrait of Doctor Wallace, Waheed Rabbani paints a vivid picture of a determined woman ahead of her time. A shocking development late in Book 1 reveals yet another side of this intrepid heroine.
All of this is played out against the backdrop of historical events. I can’t comment on the accuracy with which these events are portrayed but they certainly ring true. If you enjoy historical fiction, I highly recommend “Doctor Margaret’s Sea Chest”. It’s a compelling tale from a skilled novelist.
April 24, 2014
From the first pages of this magnificent novel, which gifted Waheed Rabbani begins at the portals of the historic Lady Dufferin Hospital in Delhi in 1965, to the dark and hidden secrets of characters who lived a century earlier in Victorian times, the reader of "Dr. Margaret's Sea Chest" is taken on a magical journey through time and space and across India, Europe, and America.
We experience this intriguing tale of mystery and detection through the eyes of a Canadian-trained physician of Indian extraction, Dr. Wallidad Sharif, (a man, perhaps, who shares some of Rabbani's acute insights into personality and situations), who has gone back to India on a 12-month medical contract. He is looking forward to rediscovering and experiencing at first hand the land of his ancestors, and, if he is lucky, learning also a little about himself.
It is while he is working in Delhi that a very old and securely sealed sea trunk is discovered in a forgotten storage area of Lady Dufferin Hospital, a building founded by the Countess of Dufferin in the 1890s, back in the days of the British Raj long before India's independence. This sea chest, it transpires, was the property of Margaret Wallace, MD, a controversial and prominent American physician, one of the first women in the United States to be granted a medical degree.
And this sea chest is, in a sense, a Pandora's box for Wallidad Sharif -- for it is full of danger, mystery, conspiracy, and hidden secrets. Enough said. I do not want to give away too much of the plot. Suffice it to say that Waheed Rabbani has taken many disparate threads of story and humanity, both from current times and from sometimes-unpleasant colonial past, and with them he skillfully weaves a tapestry of mystery and delight from which unexpected images of hope emerge. This book is highly recommended, a delightfully different mystery story written by a man with a wonderful perspective on life and history.
We experience this intriguing tale of mystery and detection through the eyes of a Canadian-trained physician of Indian extraction, Dr. Wallidad Sharif, (a man, perhaps, who shares some of Rabbani's acute insights into personality and situations), who has gone back to India on a 12-month medical contract. He is looking forward to rediscovering and experiencing at first hand the land of his ancestors, and, if he is lucky, learning also a little about himself.
It is while he is working in Delhi that a very old and securely sealed sea trunk is discovered in a forgotten storage area of Lady Dufferin Hospital, a building founded by the Countess of Dufferin in the 1890s, back in the days of the British Raj long before India's independence. This sea chest, it transpires, was the property of Margaret Wallace, MD, a controversial and prominent American physician, one of the first women in the United States to be granted a medical degree.
And this sea chest is, in a sense, a Pandora's box for Wallidad Sharif -- for it is full of danger, mystery, conspiracy, and hidden secrets. Enough said. I do not want to give away too much of the plot. Suffice it to say that Waheed Rabbani has taken many disparate threads of story and humanity, both from current times and from sometimes-unpleasant colonial past, and with them he skillfully weaves a tapestry of mystery and delight from which unexpected images of hope emerge. This book is highly recommended, a delightfully different mystery story written by a man with a wonderful perspective on life and history.
April 26, 2010
Rabbani covers a very interesting period in history in this first of a trilogy of novels. The sweep spans the Underground Railway into Canada, the Crimean War, the Indian Revolution of 1857, the Charge of the Light Brigade(apparently a spectator sport), Darwin's Theory of Evolution, and even Florence Nightingale. In addition, the modern part of the story, set in the 1960's piting the CIA and the KGB, in a hunt for the lost diaries of Doctor Margaret. It is a historic novel with adventure, romance, espionage and spans a great deal of time and geography without losing detail.
The novel is narrated by Doctor Walli and focuses on the main character Doctor Margaret. There are many similarities between the two Dr.'s that come to light as the novel progresses. Dr. Walli is eventually asked to write Margaret's biography based on her diaries before the KGB can get their hands on them.
It took me awhile to get into the book and figure out what was going on. Part of the reason was the formal language used throughout the book (including by Dr. Walli in the 1960's). For me, a change in voice would have helped me keep better track of what was going on especially when the epsides were dreams or ghostly visits (which honestly I could have done without). I also found that the timelines jumped around quite a bit (not just from the '60's to a chronological earlier time but within that earlier time) and as I got used to the style it did all make sense.
All in all not a bad debut and the story is really quite engaging.
The novel is narrated by Doctor Walli and focuses on the main character Doctor Margaret. There are many similarities between the two Dr.'s that come to light as the novel progresses. Dr. Walli is eventually asked to write Margaret's biography based on her diaries before the KGB can get their hands on them.
It took me awhile to get into the book and figure out what was going on. Part of the reason was the formal language used throughout the book (including by Dr. Walli in the 1960's). For me, a change in voice would have helped me keep better track of what was going on especially when the epsides were dreams or ghostly visits (which honestly I could have done without). I also found that the timelines jumped around quite a bit (not just from the '60's to a chronological earlier time but within that earlier time) and as I got used to the style it did all make sense.
All in all not a bad debut and the story is really quite engaging.
March 1, 2012
Overall score: 4.5/5 stars
Waheed Rabbani's novel, "Doctor Margaret's Sea Chest," brings us into several intriguing worlds: the Soviet Union of the 1960s, the wars in the Crimea during the 1850s, and the Sepoy Wars of India during the 1860s.
His protagonist, Dr. Walli Khan, is given a sea chest belonging to one Margaret Wallace ... along with the charge to get the belongings to her family. Through a variety of contacts and circumstances, he manages to do so. He also ends up with her diaries about being a physician in the Crimea and India.
Rabbani's research into the time periods and cultures is impeccable. I was drawn into Margaret's journals and experiences from the very first moment Walli and his wife start reading the stories and found myself a tiny bit frustrated when the book was over! The tale has a rather open ending, and I want to know what happens next!
The ePub edition, which I read, had some editorial problems in the last 20 percent or so, with double words and double letters within words appearing. It was a little distracting, but did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the book.
Lovers of historical fiction will find much to enjoy here.
Waheed Rabbani's novel, "Doctor Margaret's Sea Chest," brings us into several intriguing worlds: the Soviet Union of the 1960s, the wars in the Crimea during the 1850s, and the Sepoy Wars of India during the 1860s.
His protagonist, Dr. Walli Khan, is given a sea chest belonging to one Margaret Wallace ... along with the charge to get the belongings to her family. Through a variety of contacts and circumstances, he manages to do so. He also ends up with her diaries about being a physician in the Crimea and India.
Rabbani's research into the time periods and cultures is impeccable. I was drawn into Margaret's journals and experiences from the very first moment Walli and his wife start reading the stories and found myself a tiny bit frustrated when the book was over! The tale has a rather open ending, and I want to know what happens next!
The ePub edition, which I read, had some editorial problems in the last 20 percent or so, with double words and double letters within words appearing. It was a little distracting, but did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the book.
Lovers of historical fiction will find much to enjoy here.
December 6, 2017
What a weird book. I was fascinated by the 19th century story - it described the difficulties of women picking up a medical profession during this time period, set against the historic events of the Crimean War and the Indian Revolution, and threaded through with a tragic love story. On the other hand, I did not like the 1960s timeline very much, which is contrived, full of weird events and unlikely coincidences and the dialogues seem odd and stilted. Did couples in the 1960s really address each other as "dear"? And spies, Russians with guns, fake book sellers and car chases, and everybody is related somehow! The book ends very abruptly in the middle of things. There wasn't even a cliffhanger, it was just cut off in the middle of the story, to the point that I felt cheated! I am surprised that the book got such a high average rating unless the ratings refer to the whole set. I am in two minds if I should read the follow-up book(s). On one side I would like to find out what happened to Margaret, on the other side I am not sure if I can face more of the Dr. Walli goes James Bond nonsense.
September 27, 2015
There are two ways in which an author can do justice to a reader – holistic research to lend a deeper/broader look than any other source can offer, and weaving the findings with heart – for that makes his/her work truly unique. Waheed Rabbani, though, makes a different point in this case: that the former can only be done well when the latter holds true.
I always like narratives that play with time. Doctor Margaret’s Sea Chest opens in a post-independence peaceful India where a Doctor Walli is tasked with delivering a mysterious, archaic chest its speculative owner in Canada. The journey is quickly complicated by the entry of Russian spies and a probably personal connection. This gives us a glimpse of 1857 Rebellion before we move on to Doctor Margaret’s even older, off-radar Canadian family saga at the eclipse of one of the first European wars. The two sub-plots run alternatively from thereon. But did I say the “1857 Rebellion?” Or was it “1857 Mutiny?” The word changes with perspective as we move from East to West and that level of awareness is not lost on the author – one of the key factors that lead to his enriched final product. It is in such details that one strikes gold, for this story is about a lot of things, of which Margaret is only one part. The subjects range not only from contemporary to ancestral elements but also from political to cultural stimuli.
The characters are given ample depth and at times, it feels as if Mr. Rabbani has drawn inspiration from real-life people. How much of historical references took place in reality is difficult to say, but some parts are fairly clear in their purely symbolic objective, such as a protagonist’s loyal pony being named Babur – the genesis of Mughal Empire in India. To those with alternative tastes, there are more striking moments. For instance, we have observed countless instances of women losing their husbands in war and the silent agony they endure as the news of death reaches their doorstep across seas. But here we get, probably for the first time, a 1st person view of wife watching her husband die on the battlefield. The agony is still silent in its cry, the pain just as reverberating. The author, however, takes it a step further as if to push us deeper into the ocean of sentiments he has created. He does this, quite simply, by replacing “Robert” (the slain hero-cum-husband) with “my Robert” which his wife, Doctor Margaret, begins to use in pages that follow. An additional touch worth a mention here is the spiritual/philosophical angle – from the blatant rejection of scientific concepts by 19th century “believers” to citations from the Bible that alleviate our craving for vengeance upon a revelation towards the end, and of course, even the teasingly rare use of Urdu poetry.
Since Sea Chest is first in a series, Waheed Rabbani has an excellent opportunity to turn this into a story worthy of an epic big-screen saga. He could work on bringing some novelty to the events around the contemporary characters – Doctor Walli, Greg, Katya et al. Perhaps this is simply an inevitable fallout of a familiar hunt-and-chase episode running alongside a novel revelations-from-the-past one. Yet, given the proceedings in epilogue, there may well be enough action left in the former. For now, all I can say is that much time and heart has been invested in writing this script. Much may gladly be invested in reading it.
Note: I received a free review copy for a fair and honest assessment.
I always like narratives that play with time. Doctor Margaret’s Sea Chest opens in a post-independence peaceful India where a Doctor Walli is tasked with delivering a mysterious, archaic chest its speculative owner in Canada. The journey is quickly complicated by the entry of Russian spies and a probably personal connection. This gives us a glimpse of 1857 Rebellion before we move on to Doctor Margaret’s even older, off-radar Canadian family saga at the eclipse of one of the first European wars. The two sub-plots run alternatively from thereon. But did I say the “1857 Rebellion?” Or was it “1857 Mutiny?” The word changes with perspective as we move from East to West and that level of awareness is not lost on the author – one of the key factors that lead to his enriched final product. It is in such details that one strikes gold, for this story is about a lot of things, of which Margaret is only one part. The subjects range not only from contemporary to ancestral elements but also from political to cultural stimuli.
The characters are given ample depth and at times, it feels as if Mr. Rabbani has drawn inspiration from real-life people. How much of historical references took place in reality is difficult to say, but some parts are fairly clear in their purely symbolic objective, such as a protagonist’s loyal pony being named Babur – the genesis of Mughal Empire in India. To those with alternative tastes, there are more striking moments. For instance, we have observed countless instances of women losing their husbands in war and the silent agony they endure as the news of death reaches their doorstep across seas. But here we get, probably for the first time, a 1st person view of wife watching her husband die on the battlefield. The agony is still silent in its cry, the pain just as reverberating. The author, however, takes it a step further as if to push us deeper into the ocean of sentiments he has created. He does this, quite simply, by replacing “Robert” (the slain hero-cum-husband) with “my Robert” which his wife, Doctor Margaret, begins to use in pages that follow. An additional touch worth a mention here is the spiritual/philosophical angle – from the blatant rejection of scientific concepts by 19th century “believers” to citations from the Bible that alleviate our craving for vengeance upon a revelation towards the end, and of course, even the teasingly rare use of Urdu poetry.
Since Sea Chest is first in a series, Waheed Rabbani has an excellent opportunity to turn this into a story worthy of an epic big-screen saga. He could work on bringing some novelty to the events around the contemporary characters – Doctor Walli, Greg, Katya et al. Perhaps this is simply an inevitable fallout of a familiar hunt-and-chase episode running alongside a novel revelations-from-the-past one. Yet, given the proceedings in epilogue, there may well be enough action left in the former. For now, all I can say is that much time and heart has been invested in writing this script. Much may gladly be invested in reading it.
Note: I received a free review copy for a fair and honest assessment.
September 3, 2010
Doctor Margaret's Sea Chest is the first book in a sprawling epic trilogy by Waheed Rabbani. The story in this debut novel spans over a hundred years and half the world; from mid-1960's India to pre-Civil War America. But the story always returns to the themes of freedom—national, personal, and gender. We have national struggles for independence, slaves being transported along the "Underground Railroad" from the U.S. to Canada, and the struggle of one young woman to fulfill her destiny and become a doctor.
It starts with the story of Dr. Walidad Sharif, an American doctor living in Delhi for a year—"giving back" to his family's country for his good fortune. The reader gets a beautiful evocation of the city—its architecture, culture, history, poverty, and diversity—through Dr. Sharif's encounters with staff and his extended family. I loved the intimate details of different cultures: greetings, clothes, food. I could smell the curry and see the dancing girl at a family gathering. Dr Sharif learns of his own families' involvement in the famous Indian "Mutiny" of 1857 (also known as India's First War of Independence) through his grandfather's journal.
But at the heart of this visit is a mystery: an unopened sea chest belonging to an American lady doctor (it's unknown whether she's from the US or Canada) who was a missionary in India during the rebellion. She disappeared and no one knows her fate. Dr. Sharif is tasked with finding her heirs (if they exist) and returning the sea chest to them when he returns home. But the existence of the artifact has caught the attention of the Soviet KGB who attempt to steal it. And when he accomplishes his mission, Dr. Sharif gets a visit from the CIA.
The historical action then turns to the owner of the sea chest: Dr. Margaret Wallace. Through her diaries we follow her yearning as a girl and young woman to become a physician (against the wishes of her family and society), her romance with her handsome Canadian cousin (against the wishes of both their families), and her subsequent trip to India via the Crimea War and the Charge of the Light Brigade. By the end, some questions are answered, but not all, setting the reader up for the second book in the trilogy.
Waheed Rabbani brings his own international experience to this sweeping story: born in India; educated in Pakistan, England and Canada; he grew up reading Victorian and Edwardian literature; drawn to the stories of the British Raj and India's struggle for independence. His take on this story from India's point of view is refreshing and entertaining.
It starts with the story of Dr. Walidad Sharif, an American doctor living in Delhi for a year—"giving back" to his family's country for his good fortune. The reader gets a beautiful evocation of the city—its architecture, culture, history, poverty, and diversity—through Dr. Sharif's encounters with staff and his extended family. I loved the intimate details of different cultures: greetings, clothes, food. I could smell the curry and see the dancing girl at a family gathering. Dr Sharif learns of his own families' involvement in the famous Indian "Mutiny" of 1857 (also known as India's First War of Independence) through his grandfather's journal.
But at the heart of this visit is a mystery: an unopened sea chest belonging to an American lady doctor (it's unknown whether she's from the US or Canada) who was a missionary in India during the rebellion. She disappeared and no one knows her fate. Dr. Sharif is tasked with finding her heirs (if they exist) and returning the sea chest to them when he returns home. But the existence of the artifact has caught the attention of the Soviet KGB who attempt to steal it. And when he accomplishes his mission, Dr. Sharif gets a visit from the CIA.
The historical action then turns to the owner of the sea chest: Dr. Margaret Wallace. Through her diaries we follow her yearning as a girl and young woman to become a physician (against the wishes of her family and society), her romance with her handsome Canadian cousin (against the wishes of both their families), and her subsequent trip to India via the Crimea War and the Charge of the Light Brigade. By the end, some questions are answered, but not all, setting the reader up for the second book in the trilogy.
Waheed Rabbani brings his own international experience to this sweeping story: born in India; educated in Pakistan, England and Canada; he grew up reading Victorian and Edwardian literature; drawn to the stories of the British Raj and India's struggle for independence. His take on this story from India's point of view is refreshing and entertaining.
October 3, 2010
Nearing the end of his medical stay in Delhi in the 1960’s, soon to return to America, Dr. Sharif is approached by hospital staff to return an old sea chest that has been left abandoned for over one hundred years. When Dr. Sharif agrees, so opens up a story full of intrigue, struggle, romance, betrayal, history and much, much more. The sea chest belonged to a Margaret Wallace, an American female doctor working as a missionary in India during India’s revolution in the mid-1800’s. Among other things, a diary is found inside, documenting the story of her life.
Doctor Margaret proves an intriguing and well-developed character, way ahead of her time; from a little girl she is set on becoming a doctor and working in India. To help her family out, employed as a cleaning girl at a local clinic, she is thrilled to learn about a Medical College for Women in Philadelphia. She says in her diary, “I dreamt of studying in classrooms with floors and walls of polished mahogany hardwood and performing and experimenting in the laboratories, wearing those white coats.” Breaking all social rules of the 1800’s, Margaret’s determination helps her realize her dreams, making her a pioneer in the women’s movement. But the novel is also a story of romance, as Margaret falls in love with and marries her Canadian cousin Robert, and follows him to the Crimea, where he is serving in the war.
The book moves rapidly and in two timelines, from the mid 1800’s to the 1960’s. It covers much territory, from Delhi, to the Niagara region, to London, and includes events such as the Crimean War, the Underground Railroad, and India’s struggle for independence from the Raj. It is obvious Waheed Rabbani did a lot of research, only to skilfully interweave his findings with intrigue and drama.
A bit on the formal side (but in a good way, adding to the authenticity), the writing is rich with dialogue and description. Some of my favorite lines are right near the beginning. Dr. Sharif describes driving in Delhi, where he finds himself “…overtaking an overcrowded bus, with passengers hanging on for dear life from the doors and even poised on rear bumpers …” He adds, “Bicyclists weaved in and around the moving cars, buses, taxis and rickshaws.”
A debut novel and the first of a trilogy, Doctor Margaret’s Sea Chest is as much entertaining as it is educational. A most intriguing read. Am looking forward to the second installment.
Doctor Margaret proves an intriguing and well-developed character, way ahead of her time; from a little girl she is set on becoming a doctor and working in India. To help her family out, employed as a cleaning girl at a local clinic, she is thrilled to learn about a Medical College for Women in Philadelphia. She says in her diary, “I dreamt of studying in classrooms with floors and walls of polished mahogany hardwood and performing and experimenting in the laboratories, wearing those white coats.” Breaking all social rules of the 1800’s, Margaret’s determination helps her realize her dreams, making her a pioneer in the women’s movement. But the novel is also a story of romance, as Margaret falls in love with and marries her Canadian cousin Robert, and follows him to the Crimea, where he is serving in the war.
The book moves rapidly and in two timelines, from the mid 1800’s to the 1960’s. It covers much territory, from Delhi, to the Niagara region, to London, and includes events such as the Crimean War, the Underground Railroad, and India’s struggle for independence from the Raj. It is obvious Waheed Rabbani did a lot of research, only to skilfully interweave his findings with intrigue and drama.
A bit on the formal side (but in a good way, adding to the authenticity), the writing is rich with dialogue and description. Some of my favorite lines are right near the beginning. Dr. Sharif describes driving in Delhi, where he finds himself “…overtaking an overcrowded bus, with passengers hanging on for dear life from the doors and even poised on rear bumpers …” He adds, “Bicyclists weaved in and around the moving cars, buses, taxis and rickshaws.”
A debut novel and the first of a trilogy, Doctor Margaret’s Sea Chest is as much entertaining as it is educational. A most intriguing read. Am looking forward to the second installment.
July 14, 2019
This is the first part of a trilogy. In the 1960s, a doctor agrees to return a hundred year old mysterious travel chest from Delhi to the American descendants of its original owner, Dr Margaret Wallace. Sharif's attempts to do so are not without their own difficulties - or indeed without visitations by Doctor Margaret herself. A series of flashbacks and extracts from the sea chest's hidden journals paint layer after layer into the novel: Margaret's childhood ambitions to become a missionary doctor; a new slant on the so-called Indian Mutiny - really an early attempt for independence from the Raj; Margaret's love affair with her Canadian cousin Robert; and Robert's part in the disasters of the Crimea. Lots of intrigue and drama along the way. It's a big read, not for the faint-hearted, but obviously well-researched and written with passion, colour and action. I will definitely read Part Two.
January 17, 2015
In writing a historical novel the writer needs to be very cautious in maintaining a judicious balance between history and fiction. if historical facts overtake fictional imagination the story turns out to be a dry information fact book, and if imagination bypasses facts it no, longer can be categorised as history. From this perspective, Doctor Margaret’s Sea chest by Waheed Rabban is a successful venture where history and imagination are both friends, not foes. The time frame of the
Azadi Series, (to which our present book is the first volume) is also vast dating back to the 1850’s to the Indian independence.
the first thing that will catch your attention is the effortless ease at which the story line makes a frequent journey from the past to the present and back to the past-as if done by a time machine. But a reader will never find himself clueless about what is happening-always discovering amid new happenings that doesn’t only include Indian history but also contemporary world history.
Sepoy mutiny may have been dubbed in history as a failed ploy to reinstate the lost glory of the great Mughals, but there is no denying the fact that the sheer zeal of getting freed from the colonial rule was the root cause of the great mutiny. Themed on the rebellion, this novel is an absorbing tale that correlates the past with the present.
The story unfolds in a dramatic manner-the narrator of the story visualizing some pictures from the past, in his dreams- he is in a role to save the Queen of Jhansi from the British chasing her. Is it a premonition? Or is it simply a coincidence?
Let me share a few lines from the story that will give some insight to the reader about the capability of the writer in creating a mystic environment with words alone-
READ COMPLETE REVIEW AT
https://jayasreesown.wordpress.com/20...
Azadi Series, (to which our present book is the first volume) is also vast dating back to the 1850’s to the Indian independence.
the first thing that will catch your attention is the effortless ease at which the story line makes a frequent journey from the past to the present and back to the past-as if done by a time machine. But a reader will never find himself clueless about what is happening-always discovering amid new happenings that doesn’t only include Indian history but also contemporary world history.
Sepoy mutiny may have been dubbed in history as a failed ploy to reinstate the lost glory of the great Mughals, but there is no denying the fact that the sheer zeal of getting freed from the colonial rule was the root cause of the great mutiny. Themed on the rebellion, this novel is an absorbing tale that correlates the past with the present.
The story unfolds in a dramatic manner-the narrator of the story visualizing some pictures from the past, in his dreams- he is in a role to save the Queen of Jhansi from the British chasing her. Is it a premonition? Or is it simply a coincidence?
Let me share a few lines from the story that will give some insight to the reader about the capability of the writer in creating a mystic environment with words alone-
READ COMPLETE REVIEW AT
https://jayasreesown.wordpress.com/20...
July 14, 2017
It's not my habit make work in progress' notes but in this case I would make an exception for this book it's absolutely wonderfull. It catch you since the very first pages. It's an honor that the author choose me to translate this book into italian language! I've never end to thank him for this.
****
Non sono abituato a scrivere note in corso di lettura ma in questo caso voglio fare un'eccezione perché questo libro è assolutamente meraviglioso. Vi prende sin dalle primissime pagine. È un onore per me essere stato scelto dall'autore per tradurlo in italiano. Non smetterò mai di ringraziarlo per questo.
Giudizio conclusivo:
Romanzo complesso e molto avvincente. Unisce una vicenda storica ad una storia d'amore, a tratti struggente ad una trama ricca di pathos e di adrenalina. La capacità dell'autore di rendere ogni risvolto della vicenda avvincente ed intrigante e la sua capacità descrittiva rendono "Doctor Margaret's Sea Chest" un libro imperdibile per ogni lettore. Se avete timore perché è in lingua inglese non temete! Ve la riuscirete a cavare senza troppi sforzi. Vi basterà immergervi farvi prendere per mano dall'autore e lasciarvi trascinare dalla meravigliosa vicenda e, nel caso lo riteniate opportuno, tenervi vicino un dizionario.
È stato un piacere infinito oltre che un onore per me aver tradotto in italiano (o quanto meno aver tentato di tradurre!) questo romanzo del quale spero di esser riuscito a non far perdere la bellezza incomparabile dell'originale.
****
Non sono abituato a scrivere note in corso di lettura ma in questo caso voglio fare un'eccezione perché questo libro è assolutamente meraviglioso. Vi prende sin dalle primissime pagine. È un onore per me essere stato scelto dall'autore per tradurlo in italiano. Non smetterò mai di ringraziarlo per questo.
Giudizio conclusivo:
Romanzo complesso e molto avvincente. Unisce una vicenda storica ad una storia d'amore, a tratti struggente ad una trama ricca di pathos e di adrenalina. La capacità dell'autore di rendere ogni risvolto della vicenda avvincente ed intrigante e la sua capacità descrittiva rendono "Doctor Margaret's Sea Chest" un libro imperdibile per ogni lettore. Se avete timore perché è in lingua inglese non temete! Ve la riuscirete a cavare senza troppi sforzi. Vi basterà immergervi farvi prendere per mano dall'autore e lasciarvi trascinare dalla meravigliosa vicenda e, nel caso lo riteniate opportuno, tenervi vicino un dizionario.
È stato un piacere infinito oltre che un onore per me aver tradotto in italiano (o quanto meno aver tentato di tradurre!) questo romanzo del quale spero di esser riuscito a non far perdere la bellezza incomparabile dell'originale.
May 29, 2010
Doctor Margaret’s Sea Chest, a historical novel by Waheed Rabbani of Grimsby, Ontario is a fascinating look-back at the Indian Mutiny of 1857, which ushered in the struggle for freedom from the British Raj. The narrative latched on to a 100-year-old sea chest (trunk) belonging to an American doctor named Margaret takes the reader on a galloping ride through Delhi, Jhansi, Grimsby, Niagara region, New Jersey, London and Turkey.
Narrated through the first person POVs of Dr. Sharif, a naturalized American of Indian origin, and Margaret who served in Jhansi during the mutiny led by Jhansi ki Rani, the story brings alive the periods of the Crimean War of 1854 and the War of 1812 between USA and Canada through the seemingly authentic voices of the characters involved.
Of great interest to this reviewer were the relationships of Margaret and her cousin Robert through their teenage years, courtship and marriage.
The author captures the historical period with such felicity as if he’d lived and experienced those times, which is a way of saying that his research had been thorough and pukka. The character of the protagonist Margaret has been realistically drawn and filled out. The story engaged me fully because it was shown in dramatic scenes rather than merely told. The dialogue of the era was replayed with an unerring ear.
I recommend this novel for anyone interested in history, love, lust and period culture.
Ben Antao
Narrated through the first person POVs of Dr. Sharif, a naturalized American of Indian origin, and Margaret who served in Jhansi during the mutiny led by Jhansi ki Rani, the story brings alive the periods of the Crimean War of 1854 and the War of 1812 between USA and Canada through the seemingly authentic voices of the characters involved.
Of great interest to this reviewer were the relationships of Margaret and her cousin Robert through their teenage years, courtship and marriage.
The author captures the historical period with such felicity as if he’d lived and experienced those times, which is a way of saying that his research had been thorough and pukka. The character of the protagonist Margaret has been realistically drawn and filled out. The story engaged me fully because it was shown in dramatic scenes rather than merely told. The dialogue of the era was replayed with an unerring ear.
I recommend this novel for anyone interested in history, love, lust and period culture.
Ben Antao
January 22, 2016
This book is the result of master storytelling. The story is wide and vast, and covers so much in history as depicted in Margaret's diary located in the Sea Chest. People all over were looking for the Sea Chest as it contained valuable information, as Margaret had depicted many and various historical events in a way that most couldn't. Her writings and recordings became a valuable asset to society, and government agencies were searching for them.
Margaret is a sweet, passionate girl who always wanted to be a doctor, despite the opposition she faced around her. She strove for that very much. Yet besides that, she always kept a diary in which she'd record her life and events around her in a very eloquent manner. The diary spanned over a very long time, and covered so many parts and aspects of history. The author has evidently done his research, and is very historically knowledgeable. It's always great to read about historical events within the aura of a beautiful story.
The story is very well written, and the characters are very lovable and interesting. The plot is long and at the same time intriguing. The setting of the book is well developed, and the imagination put into this book is outstanding. The book is an enjoyable read and is admirable. Most of all, Margaret is such a wondrous, unforgettable character.
A very ambitious work!
Margaret is a sweet, passionate girl who always wanted to be a doctor, despite the opposition she faced around her. She strove for that very much. Yet besides that, she always kept a diary in which she'd record her life and events around her in a very eloquent manner. The diary spanned over a very long time, and covered so many parts and aspects of history. The author has evidently done his research, and is very historically knowledgeable. It's always great to read about historical events within the aura of a beautiful story.
The story is very well written, and the characters are very lovable and interesting. The plot is long and at the same time intriguing. The setting of the book is well developed, and the imagination put into this book is outstanding. The book is an enjoyable read and is admirable. Most of all, Margaret is such a wondrous, unforgettable character.
A very ambitious work!
July 6, 2012
EDIT: This author has repeatedly harassed, belittled, and criticized me for the contents of my review in email, despite my insistence that this is my opinion. Be warned.
The synopsis on the back of the book confused me before I began reading, as it seemed to tell me the plot for the entire trilogy, instead of just this first book. I also struggled with staying interested in the book, as every page is saturated with foreign words and expressions that I needed to look up in the Glossary at the end of the book if I wanted to understand anything. It was quickly apparent that the history of India also played a major role in the plot of this book, as the author spends large chunks of time teaching the reader about India through the thoughts and conversations of the characters.
I felt like the plot really dragged its heels in progressing, and I often got lost in the details, unsure of what I was supposed to be focusing on the most.
In short, I simply could not progress with the book. I stalled on page 72, and I never picked it back up. Maybe I was not in the right frame of mind to read it, maybe it was too intimidating, I don't know, but if I feel like I am forcing myself to read the book when I struggle to stay focused after only a page, then the book is not for me.
The synopsis on the back of the book confused me before I began reading, as it seemed to tell me the plot for the entire trilogy, instead of just this first book. I also struggled with staying interested in the book, as every page is saturated with foreign words and expressions that I needed to look up in the Glossary at the end of the book if I wanted to understand anything. It was quickly apparent that the history of India also played a major role in the plot of this book, as the author spends large chunks of time teaching the reader about India through the thoughts and conversations of the characters.
I felt like the plot really dragged its heels in progressing, and I often got lost in the details, unsure of what I was supposed to be focusing on the most.
In short, I simply could not progress with the book. I stalled on page 72, and I never picked it back up. Maybe I was not in the right frame of mind to read it, maybe it was too intimidating, I don't know, but if I feel like I am forcing myself to read the book when I struggle to stay focused after only a page, then the book is not for me.
September 1, 2010
This is an interesting historical read. We follow Margaret through many twists and turns in her goals to not just be the same as every other female in the 1800s.
She grew up as the child of a minister and wanted to be a doctor. She didn't want to be seen as women were in that time period. She wanted to be more.
A neat twist in this book: it's not actually told in the 1800s. It's told in the 1960s by someone who found her chest filled with stories to her life. You do need to pay attention and follow the book. It's a refreshing way to get a little history as someone is discovering things that were a hundred years before them. It does do some back and forth century changing, but I didn't find it hard to follow.
There's also more history included as you dig through Margaret's Seachest and learn some various cultural traditions. This books combine many areas: Russia, India, England, etc.
A handy glossary is included at the back of the book to help with some terms.
I found this book to be a very entertaining read. It's perfect for a colder night, a nice fire and a cup of tea.
RATING: ♥♥♥
Pages: 417
Softcover
She grew up as the child of a minister and wanted to be a doctor. She didn't want to be seen as women were in that time period. She wanted to be more.
A neat twist in this book: it's not actually told in the 1800s. It's told in the 1960s by someone who found her chest filled with stories to her life. You do need to pay attention and follow the book. It's a refreshing way to get a little history as someone is discovering things that were a hundred years before them. It does do some back and forth century changing, but I didn't find it hard to follow.
There's also more history included as you dig through Margaret's Seachest and learn some various cultural traditions. This books combine many areas: Russia, India, England, etc.
A handy glossary is included at the back of the book to help with some terms.
I found this book to be a very entertaining read. It's perfect for a colder night, a nice fire and a cup of tea.
RATING: ♥♥♥
Pages: 417
Softcover
January 18, 2014
When I first began reading this book, I had no idea of what to expect. Once I began reading it, I could not put it down. Had to take it to work and read it on my breaks. The book is fiction based on historical facts and the author does a remarkable job of making all the characters come to life. A very well written book and I thoroughly recommend it!
Wayne Croning
Author of 'Karachi Backwaters:My love affair with boats and other adventures.'
Wayne Croning
Author of 'Karachi Backwaters:My love affair with boats and other adventures.'
November 12, 2015
Encantador
Es un libro lleno de historias cargadas de sentimientos y emociones que se presenta en diferentes tiempos Alá vez manteniéndose bien atento para no perder el hilo de los acontecimientos. Muy bien narrado con un lenguaje muy rico y lleno de aventura. Adicionalmente aprendemos de la historia y costumbres de las épocas mencionadas me encantó leerlo, lo recomiendo.
Es un libro lleno de historias cargadas de sentimientos y emociones que se presenta en diferentes tiempos Alá vez manteniéndose bien atento para no perder el hilo de los acontecimientos. Muy bien narrado con un lenguaje muy rico y lleno de aventura. Adicionalmente aprendemos de la historia y costumbres de las épocas mencionadas me encantó leerlo, lo recomiendo.
December 19, 2016
Merveilleux livre ecrit par Rabbani et traduit par moi-meme. Pour tous les amoureux d'aventures. Premier d' une trilogie. A ne pas manquer! Laissez-vous transporter a la belle epoque en compagnie de Margaret!
November 25, 2016
Great great book and fabulous writing. I had the great honor to translate it into French
October 31, 2020
Fascinating journey through India, Canada and Crimea in the 1850s
This is a multi-pronged book, told from three different perspectives: a hero of the Indian independence movement in the mid-19th century, a female doctor from North America struggling for recognition in the same time period, and a doctor from 'modern' (1960s) USA, researching their stories.
There is a lot of historical detail, which I enjoyed, and the connecting thread - Dr Margaret's sea chest - holds the vast tale together. There is also a bit of intrigue and mystery, which keeps you guessing to the end.
The author did a good job of portraying the different characters and their motivations. At times, there is almost too much detail about their every action and contemplation, but the storyline kept me engaged to the end. Recommended.
This is a multi-pronged book, told from three different perspectives: a hero of the Indian independence movement in the mid-19th century, a female doctor from North America struggling for recognition in the same time period, and a doctor from 'modern' (1960s) USA, researching their stories.
There is a lot of historical detail, which I enjoyed, and the connecting thread - Dr Margaret's sea chest - holds the vast tale together. There is also a bit of intrigue and mystery, which keeps you guessing to the end.
The author did a good job of portraying the different characters and their motivations. At times, there is almost too much detail about their every action and contemplation, but the storyline kept me engaged to the end. Recommended.
October 11, 2019
Leaves you wanting more!
I found myself travelling through time and places, intrigued to find out what would be revealed next. The history and Geography added to the pleasure of reading. The author paints wonderful pictures with his words. So many interesting characters with intertwined stories. I felt like I was there, getting emotionally involved. At the last word; I wanted to follow the families in, to learn more. Ruth Hartley
I found myself travelling through time and places, intrigued to find out what would be revealed next. The history and Geography added to the pleasure of reading. The author paints wonderful pictures with his words. So many interesting characters with intertwined stories. I felt like I was there, getting emotionally involved. At the last word; I wanted to follow the families in, to learn more. Ruth Hartley
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