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148th out of 291 books
—
193 voters
Fleshmarket
by
Nicola Morgan (Goodreads Author)
Edinburgh, 1822. Young Robbie is just eight years old when he witnesses his mother’s agonizing pain and then death from the removal of a breast tumor during public surgery at the hands of one savage surgeon, Dr. Knox. The sounds of his mother’s piercing cries haunt Robbie as he and his hapless father and baby sister try to go on.
But life proves bitter when Robbie’s father...more
But life proves bitter when Robbie’s father...more
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published
August 10th 2004
by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
(first published August 10th 2003)
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It is 1822, and Robbie is only a young boy. His family is climbing up the social latter and moving into one of the houses being built in the New Town. All is going well until his mother develops a tumor on her breast. At this time anesthetic was not yet discovered and surgery was still very experimental. She undergoes surgery performed by Dr. Knox to have it removed; but she dies five days later.
Nicola Morgan’s Fleshmarket is a fictional story based on true events. The story follows Robbie An...more
Nicola Morgan’s Fleshmarket is a fictional story based on true events. The story follows Robbie An...more
Many of us know that if we had lived 200 years ago, we would not have lived for very long. Chances are that I would not have even survived my birth! 'Fleshmarket' by Nicola Morgan takes us back to life in 1822, providing a rare look at a time when many life conditions, including sanitation and medicine, were far more crude and rudimentary than they are today.
We are introduced to eight year old Robbie, the main character of this novel, in the prologue, where he is bystander at his mother's breast...more
We are introduced to eight year old Robbie, the main character of this novel, in the prologue, where he is bystander at his mother's breast...more
I really liked this book. It is a great historical read going back to the time period where doctors were just starting to learn anatomy of the human body. That wasn't an easy time period as religion didn't want doctors to be doing any looking into dead bodies even if to learn. Surgeries were in very primitive forms. There were no numbing agents/ opiates of any kind as of yet in this book. The book is well written and interesting and informational as well. The place is Edinburgh, Scotland, 1822....more
The prologue of this book gripped me - I was enthralled, and brought it home from the library. The rest of the book sometimes had me on the edge of my seat, but mostly just moved along nicely. I thought the rest of the book would be more of the same in the prologue, but it wasn't to be. I did enjoy it, however. I enjoyed how the prologue was based on a real story, especially. I cannot imagine surgery back in 1822 in Scotland. This book helped me see the development of surgical procedures. I had...more
This book is aimed at ‘young adults’, but seriously, don’t let that put you off! It’s set in Edinburgh in the 19th century and is loosely based on a true story.
Morgan’s writing is beautiful (especially since at times she’s describing fairly squalid surroundings!) and very descriptive about life for Robbie and his family and their struggle to survive. Robbie’s desire for revenge against the man who, in his opinion, killed his mother builds and builds, and fate deals its hand when it seems their p...more
Morgan’s writing is beautiful (especially since at times she’s describing fairly squalid surroundings!) and very descriptive about life for Robbie and his family and their struggle to survive. Robbie’s desire for revenge against the man who, in his opinion, killed his mother builds and builds, and fate deals its hand when it seems their p...more
Jul 04, 2012
Judie Holliday
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
scottish,
young-adult
Is it fair to say I struggled with a book that wasn't aimed at me anyway? I picked this up because my daughter will be reading it in school next year and I wanted to be able to talk to her about it. It has a great premise and because it's a piece of YA fiction, I assumed I'd get through it in no time. Instead, I found myself putting it down a lot and not being minded to pick it up again. The plot, such as it is, doesn't really stretch to the length of the book. Not enough happens, and what does...more
I loved this book!
Firstly, I am writing a sequel to my own novel and well, this was a great read for me to get into the research frame of mind (for the period)!
The author grabs you and does not let go.
You find yourself being catapulted into 19th Century Edinburgh.
The city is described as it must have really been (for the poor). No window dressing here, no gloss. It's real and I felt it was.
The setting could not have been more vividly done nor better written.
The characters are extremely well-draw...more
Firstly, I am writing a sequel to my own novel and well, this was a great read for me to get into the research frame of mind (for the period)!
The author grabs you and does not let go.
You find yourself being catapulted into 19th Century Edinburgh.
The city is described as it must have really been (for the poor). No window dressing here, no gloss. It's real and I felt it was.
The setting could not have been more vividly done nor better written.
The characters are extremely well-draw...more
Although this story line and time period are ones that interesting, and the writing is quite good, I couldn't get around the fact that this book was dull. There was nothing extremely exciting about it, and the climax wasn't much of a climax. The pacing of the story wasn't terrible, but it was steady the whole way through. It felt that instead of reading a mystery novel that should be filled with suspense and excitement, I was reading a newspaper article about a boy involved with a murder; the st...more
Recently, me and my family when to edinbough and went to Mary King's close. And when we went around for our tour, they mentioned Fleshmarket and I had heard about this book before so I decided to read it
It's closely related to fleshmarket and the events that happened there. this book is about a boy named Robbie and his family, who after his mother died, went downhill.
this book, which whom my sister read to (even though she never reads), is beautifully described and sets the seen wonderfully.
Bi...more
It's closely related to fleshmarket and the events that happened there. this book is about a boy named Robbie and his family, who after his mother died, went downhill.
this book, which whom my sister read to (even though she never reads), is beautifully described and sets the seen wonderfully.
Bi...more
Almost two hundred years ago, in 1822 surgeons in Edinburgh were begining to perform operations to remove major tumours from their patients. But there were a couple of things that the surgeons did not know about yet. The first thing was anaesthetic. All the operations were performed on patients fully awake and conscious. The second thing was in order to prevent infection operations should be perfomed in only sterile atmoshperes.Dr Robert Knox, the surgeon, operates on Robbie's mother, in these...more
Jan 23, 2013
Vanessa
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-for-work,
work-loaned
This was a quick and engaging read. It was easy to get into, although not always an easy read due to the surprising grimness of the novel at points. The prologue in particular was particularly graphic, something I would not normally expect of a novel aimed at children. I feel that this book however can be read and enjoyed by both children and adults alike.
Nicola Morgan has obviously done her research, and the Edinburgh that she paints in her story is both arresting and heartbreaking. The poverty...more
Nicola Morgan has obviously done her research, and the Edinburgh that she paints in her story is both arresting and heartbreaking. The poverty...more
Amazing book; one of my favorite in my entire history of reading. I sought after this book for years not remembering the name but remembering the story. When i found it i was so excited, dark and mysterious, sorrowful and exciting. Definatly a MUST read.
Definitely not what I was expecting when I picked it up based on the title and the author's other work (Mondays are Red, I believe), but still EXCELLENT. I have gained great respect for Nicola Morgan and her work, and this book is stunningly written.
Fleshmarket is a wonderful mingling of fact and fiction played out against the atmospheric backdrop of Edinburgh Old Town. The novel also raises questions about medical research and the legal restraints on it, as valid now as then. - more on my blog
Jan 12, 2012
Andrea
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who likes true life based stories
Shelves:
borrowed,
young-adult
I ended up choosing to read this book because I had to photocopy the first chapter for a project at school, copying first chapters for a 'taster' of the book...it worked, I was intrigued and wanted to read on.
The author pulls no punches in her graphic description of life in 19th century Edinburgh, how hard it was for the poor to survive in the inner city, in the 'Fleshmarket'. Robbie, the boy in the tale, breadwinner for his sister and himself, trying to make sense of what he sees as an injustic...more
The author pulls no punches in her graphic description of life in 19th century Edinburgh, how hard it was for the poor to survive in the inner city, in the 'Fleshmarket'. Robbie, the boy in the tale, breadwinner for his sister and himself, trying to make sense of what he sees as an injustic...more
Jul 27, 2007
Librarian
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historicalfiction,
teenfiction
Scotland, 1800s. 14-year-old Robbie's mother dies just one week after having a tumor removed from her breast and Robbie's father is nowhere to be found, leaving Robbie and his sister to fend for themselves in the squalor of the streets of Edinburgh. Robbie goes to work for two men who deliver fresh bodes to a doctor who needs cadavers to study surgery. Robbie suspects this doctor is the same one that killed his mother, and also suspects that people are being murdered to provide the fresh cadaver...more
I thought that this was a pretty good book. I liked this book because it was a mystery but it wasn't as scary as the title made it out to be in my mind.
I really enjoyed this book. Love historical fiction and learning about something I know nothing about. Morgan's storytelling is wonderful
Wonderful book from when I was a teenager. Full of emotion and wanting of the character to think twice about his actions.
Overall, I liked this book. The whole idea of going back in time to see what life was like and the horror that existed was very interesting. Great writing, great idea... Great book.
A friend of Angie's from school.
This is a good book, i really liked this book. Although it got a little slow in the middle. This book it about a boy named robert who's mom dies. His dad then becomes a drunk, then disappears. It leaves robert to take care of his little sister. He got a job running food for a bakery. Then he gets a job taking dead bodies illegally to the doctor who operated on his mom. This is a good book and i recommend this book for almost anyone.
I'm really starting to enjoy historical fiction, and this one was right up my street, concentrating on the notorious Dr. Knox and his dodgy acquaintance with a couple of body snatchers in Edinburgh in the 1800s.
Morgan's writing is excellent, and the research done for this book was good. It was graphic, violent in parts, disturbing a lot of the time, and yet never loses its adolescent charm. Highly recommended.
Morgan's writing is excellent, and the research done for this book was good. It was graphic, violent in parts, disturbing a lot of the time, and yet never loses its adolescent charm. Highly recommended.
Dec 20, 2008
Terry
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Older teen boys who don't read hist. fic.
Recommended to Terry by:
NYRA
Shelves:
historical-fiction
I don't usually read historical fiction, so this was a fascinating departure for me. The opening chapter is absolutely unflinching in its depiction of a surgery at the dawn of the profession, before such niceties as anesthesia were in use. With a strong male protagonist and complicated moral positions, this won't be for everyone. Still, it was a fascinating, dark read.
looooooooooovvedd the book and to think i just choose it, i wasn't disappointed.
Along with plague/pestilence books, stories involving 1830s England and their version of "medicine" are pretty scary good. See Resurrection Men for a similar read...and a pretty gory description of the Smithfield meat packing district of the same era/location.
you really lear what edinburgh was like back then. and revenge to. go to mary king's close!!!!!
A look into Edinburgh's ghastly medical history. Easy read with the story flowing smoothly.
creepy
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