Dr. de Weert's Daughter

About the Book

In 1522 Dr. de Weert a Hamburg physician was executed for transgressing the law in his pursuit of knowledge. His only surviving daughter, Sophie was to unwittingly embark on a life devoted to the care of women. Following the death of her mentor she discovered her father’s real “crime”. Sophie went on to champion midwifery and fulfill his legacy, rising to the esteemed position of Dame des Accouche at the Hôtel-Dieu de Paris until her death in 1576. Some four hundred and fifty years later on the other side of the world the young Dr. Ambrose Keller rediscovers his family history as he too embarks on a career in the care of women and babies. The ghosts of the past support and torment him as he struggles with his own dilemmas and inadequacies. Dr. de Weert’s Daughter is their story. Medical conditions and procedures in this novel are accurate. Places, events and characters are largely factual and the historical aspects based on available records. Contemporary names have been changed to preserve confidentiality.

About the Author

Dr. Ambrose Keller is a pseudonym of a practicing Australian medical doctor with extensive experience in obstetric and family medicine. He is a keen a student of history.