In 1840s London, when Dr. Croft discovers all but one of the Beady family dead from cholera, he carries the remaining eight-year-old Nora to his residence. Mrs. Phipps, his housekeeper, takes care of her and soon the child recovers. But she has no family left so lives with them.

Dr. Croft spends part of his day attending to his patients, part of his day at St Bart’s Hospital and the rest, reading medical journals, dissecting dead bodies and writing papers. Nora attends school, but soon becomes interested in Dr. Croft’s laboratory and the goings on. As she grows, she becomes more knowledgeable in surgery, but what can she do with this knowledge in an era when women are forbidden to be doctors? And what will happen to Dr. Croft who has encouraged her ability if this is discovered?

• Other 5 out of 5s