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?
In the 1800s Arthur is born on the banks of the Thames and lives in squalor, but when he becomes an apprentice to a printing company, he has the opportunity to read as well as fill his belly. When he reads Nineveh and its Remains, he is forever obsessed with Mesopotamia. In the 21st century, Narin is a Yazidi who lives by the Tigris River. Her grandmother brings her up while her father earns a living as a musician. But when they enter Iraq for her baptism, disaster strikes. In present day London Zaleekhah is a scientist studying water. She has been brought up by her uncle and aunt after her parents’ death and is forever grateful—that is, until she discovers Uncle Malek’s plan. This is a fascinating read entwining historical facts with fiction and bringing these seemingly different characters together over time and geography.
On his 100th birthday, Allan makes his escape from the nursing home and first meets a gangster from the Never Again gang at the bus station whose bag he takes on to a bus and leaves. Next he meets a petty thief, Julius. With the gangster chasing them wanting his suitcase back, then the police, their adventure begins.
Eight-year-old Twyla and Roberta are thrown together as roommates in a shelter. Years later, they meet in a diner and again during a protest. But which female is black and which one is the white character. This is the crux of this clever story that has the reader questioning their own racism. It’s only a short story, but well worth reading. My advice—read the story first, then the introduction.
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