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The Blood Doctor
- Narrated by: Robert Powell
- Length: 15 hrs and 23 mins
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Summary
The First Lord Nanther, expert in blood diseases, particularly the royal disease of Heamophilia, and favoured physician to Queen Victoria, clearly hoped to be the subject of an admiring posthumous biography. But when his great-grandson, Martin Nanther begins to research his life for a biography, the Martin comes to suspect that his great-grandfather’s old records conceal more than they reveal. Henry had been obsessed with blood, to him, blood was a thing of beauty and he could not fathom how anyone could flinch or faint at the sight of it. As Martin’s research deepens, he begins to wonder whether the mysterious deaths of a number of friends and relatives of his great-grandfather really were mere coincidence or did Henry’s fascination with blood have a much darker side?
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What listeners say about The Blood Doctor
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Maz Smith
- 29-05-22
thank you
Dear Robert. thank you for reading, to me , this extraordinary book. it is a fascinating story and I enjoyed every minute.
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- Julian E. Boyce
- 28-04-20
Poor Bloody Henry!
This is a book that will live with me for a very long time. After a hesitant beginning, when I was tempted to abandon it, it pulled itself out of its mire and got going. I have to admit that was mainly due to the reading by Robert Powell; he could come and read the dictionary to me if he felt so inclined. I also have to admit my admiration for Barbara Vine, Aka Ruth Rendell. I simply cannot understand how she managed to keep that little lot going. A star.
I could have done without the history of the House of Lords but, hey, all knowledge has a use.
Previously, I knew very little about haemophilia, other than the fact that in the Victorian era it was rife. I know a lot more now.
The way Lord Martin Nanther plods his way through his family history is breathtaking, then to discover that there were unanswered questions and to be defeated at every turn was at times, almost crippling.
The final denouement was almost heartbreaking.
I listen to my books while walking my dog on our local park and this morning when I reached the end, I must be honest here, I very nearly wept.
Without doubt, the best Barbara Vine I have read/listened to yet. I just loved it.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Diana G.
- 02-03-22
Great listen
Took me a while to get into it but proved to a compulsive listen enhanced by the mellifluous voice of Robert Powell whose performance was faultless. There were so many characters in the Nanther family that I lost track a bit so a family tree to refer to would have helped.
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- Suski
- 13-09-22
Convoluted and clever
I loved Robert Powell's reading of this book. It was difficult to keep up with all the family blood connections, but just go with the flow (pardon the pun).
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- Sheila
- 12-10-15
Good reading of a middling Vine
Not top-notch Barbara Vine, but Robert Powell's reading brings out its best. You may be quite tired of House of Lords reform by the end (I was), and I would have preferred more of the history and less of the present day, but it's an interesting idea reasonably well carried out. Robert Powell is an excellent reader and I will certainly try another book read by him.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Pol
- 31-08-22
Brilliant book
One of the best books I have read in a while. Whilst it can be a little hard, at times,to follow the family tree it was well worth the effort. I thoroughly recommend this book
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- Stephanie L
- 04-02-23
A long, satisfying novel
A story about haemophilia, fertility and the House of Lords, very long but I found it fascinating. Ruth Rendell was a member of the House and I enjoyed all the details about procedure.
The story of the Victorian blood doctor was excellent, though grim and the characterisation good. Robert Powell is the perfect reader.
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- terricj
- 14-01-23
Captivating
Wasn’t sure what to expect and not my normal but I was intrigued to know what would happen as the personal life and research unfolded intertwining with each other
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- Sue
- 24-10-23
Complex and gripping story
I am already a Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine fan but hadn’t read this late written story set in a part of London I know well. The story had me guessing right to the end and I wonder what prompted this medical mystery theme. It is beautifully read by Robert Powell. As an avid family history addict, the story was/is highly satisfactory with the usual and believable highs and lows of research.
What a master story creator Barbara Rendell was. What pleasure to listen to her authorial voice via Robert Powell.
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- Emma Gentry
- 09-09-21
Hard going
While it was not a typical Barbara Vine overall the topics were interesting. It was hard going but I did want to understand the end. It was ok but quite dry compared to others which I have really enjoyed.
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