Noah Gordon - The Cole Trilogy: The Physician, Shaman, and Matters of Choice

The Cole Trilogy: A Saga of Healing and Choice

Noah Gordon's The Cole Trilogy, comprising The Physician, Shaman, and Matters of Choice, takes readers on a captivating journey through centuries, tracing the lives of a family intertwined with the history of medicine and the ever-evolving societal norms. The Physician introduces Robert Cole, an orphan who rises from London's streets to become a renowned healer. Driven by an innate sensitivity to death, Cole embarks on a perilous journey to Persia, seeking knowledge at the feet of the legendary Avicenna. His pursuit of medical understanding is woven with a passionate love story, challenging societal conventions and illuminating the power of both medicine and the human spirit. Shaman, a generation later, follows Robert Judson Cole, a descendant of the original Robert. The story unfolds against the backdrop of 19th-century America, where Cole, fleeing his ravaged Scottish homeland, finds himself immersed in the wilds of frontier Illinois. Here, he embraces the wisdom of the Sauk tribe, learning native remedies and forging a unique blend of traditional medicine and indigenous knowledge. The story intertwines love, loss, and the brutality of the Civil War, leaving an indelible mark on the reader. In Matters of Choice, the trilogy reaches its modern climax with Roberta Jeanne d’Arc Cole, a descendant of the original Robert Cole. As a highly accomplished physician in 20th-century America, Roberta grapples with the societal limitations imposed on women in the medical field. Her fight for reproductive rights, against the backdrop of her own personal struggles, culminates in a powerful exploration of choice, empowerment, and the enduring human desire for connection. Noah Gordon, through his compelling storytelling, masterfully blends historical accuracy with fictional narrative, creating a literary tapestry that captures the evolution of medicine, the enduring strength of family, and the timeless struggle for personal fulfillment.