The Surgeon's Daughter

In the 19th century, women's health was not a priority for male doctors. Nora Beady knew she had to try and save countless lives by revolutionising the field of medicine with the caesarean section surgery. But if she fails, countless other hopeful women doctors will pay the price...

Women's work is a matter of life and death

Nora Beady, the only female student at a prestigious medical school in Bologna, is a rarity. In the 19th century, women are expected to remain at home and raise children, so her unconventional, indelicate ambitions to become a licensed surgeon offend the men around her. Under constant scrutiny, Nora's successes are taken for granted; her mistakes used as proof that women aren't suited to the field.

Everything changes when she allies herself with Magdalena Morenco, the sole female doctor on staff. Together the two women develop new techniques to improve a groundbreaking surgery: the Caesarean section. It's a highly dangerous procedure and the research is gruelling, but even worse is the vitriolic response from men. Most don't trust the findings of women, and many can choose to deny their wives medical care.

Already facing resistance on all sides, Nora is shaken when she meets a patient who will die without the surgery. If the procedure is successful, her work could change the world. But a failure could cost everything: precious lives, Nora's career, and the role women will be allowed to play in medicine.