Daybreak

by Frank G. Slaughter

Libro usado en buenas condiciones, por su antiguedad podria contener señales normales de uso

Genres: Fiction, Romance

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1958

About the author

Frank Gill Slaughter , pen-name Frank G. Slaughter, pseudonym C.V. Terry, was an American novelist and physician whose books sold more than 60 million copies. His novels drew on his own experience as a doctor and his interest in history and the Bible. Through his novels, he often introduced readers to new findings in medical research and new medical technologies.

Slaughter was born in Washington, D.C., the son of Stephen Lucious Slaughter and Sarah "Sallie" Nicholson Gill. When he was about five years old, his family moved to a farm near Berea, North Carolina, which is west of Oxford, North Carolina. He earned a bachelor's degree from Trinity College (now Duke University) at 17 and went to medical school at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. He began writing fiction in 1935 while a physician at Riverside Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida.

Books by Slaughter include The Purple Quest, Surgeon, U.S.A., Epidemic! , Tomorrow's Miracle and The Scarlet Cord. Slaughter died May 17, 2001 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Reviews

[Nick Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Daybreak” isn’t a novel I would have picked up without the nudging of fate. Of course, I’ve long been familiar with author Frank G. Slaughter; a famous resident of my hometown, Jacksonville, FL, and the author of the riotous, sex-mad sudser “Doctors’ Wives,” which was adapted into a glossy, hooty 1971 film starring Dyan Cannon (the poster of which I’ve proudly hung in my dining room). Still, despite my deep love of vintage medical soaps, I probably wouldn’t have sought out “Daybreak” on my own.

A few years ago when I was working for an arts organization, one of my main responsibilities was stewarding our young donor society. Part of this stewardship involved planning events designed to deepen and broaden this group’s engagement with our local cultural community. This entailed everything from cocktail-in-hand parties at museums to dress rehearsals to walking tours to, occasionally, volunteer projects. One of these (rare) volunteer projects was cleaning out the prop loft of a local theater.

The theater, which is over 80 years old, had an astonishing collection of props, befitting its storied history and prolific offerings. All manner of items from candlesticks to pool noodles had been pressed into service at one point or another and needed to either be organized or tossed. Amidst the junk, bric a brac and curios I found a hardback copy of “Daybreak.” The book was pink, the spine featured the title written in front I hadn’t seen outside of a Douglas Sirk film and was written by the author of my beloved “Doctors’ Wives.” All of which served to pique my interest and save the book from the scrap heap.

If you read my review of Liberace’s 1972 autobiography, then you know I have books scattered around my house that I may not have read (yet) but which definitely say something about me and the things I like. “Daybreak” was such a book. I had toyed with reading it a few times, but after some internet research was quite frankly put off by its subject matter, the treatment of mental health circa 1958.

In the midst of a dreary, isolating COVID winter and after watching a few episodes of “Marcus Welby, MD,” though, I decided to give “Daybreak” a chance. And, I’m glad I did! The book deals with a dedicated, lovelorn doctor, his tragedy-laced personal life, his attempts to save the beautiful patient with whom he’s fallen in love, hospital intrigue and political graft.

Our doctor hero advocates for the use of prescription medication to treat mental illnesses while he seeks to heal the guilt brought about by an unhappy marriage (my favorite kind of marriage, btw!).

I can only assume such treatment was considered novel and a touch sensational when “Daybreak” was initially published. Not that I care very much. My interest, of course, lies not in medical science but in medical melodramas featuring doctors and nurses who are just as dedicated to the treatment of disease as they are to the mending of broken hearts.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually found this book while going through my late Grandmother’s stuff. I love all things 1950s so when I saw this cover I immediately picked it up. (It was torn already and flew off in the truck on the way home so I only remember very vaguely of what it looked like) anyway this book was a surprisingly good read. The plot was interesting enough to keep me going, and the ending was satisfactory.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good story & like that the author is a doctor & did research on the subject. To think at one time if you were mentally ill---Shock therapy and/or lobotomies were the prescribed solutions. I am so glad I was born in the 60's and my the time I had problems with depression --there were a number of drugs to choose from & I was able to be helped by those & by therapy/talks with professionals. I enjoyed the story line and the book was well written.

[Sérgio Vaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

O livro me prendeu a atenção. Gostei da história. É um pouco estranho hoje lermos algo sobre lobotomia, mas eu sempre tinha que me atentar que o livro foi escrito em 58 e naquela ocasião fazia todo o sentido esse tópico.

Achei meio forçado a recuperação dos pacientes, muito rápido o mágico. Mas como não sou médico e estamos falando de uma obra de ficção, ok, é valido.

[Fred_Likes_Words · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe 5 stars is propelled by nostalgia but I do remember really enjoying this book. A fresh story for me at the time, very well written and an interesting subject matter.

[Dark Star · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book that takes us through the lives of mental patients in a hospital, thought to be doomed by their schizophrenia. Along comes a fresh new face in the mental health field, a brain surgeon who seeks to find alternatives to lobotomy surgery, for his patients and others.

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting blend of scientific studies and heartfelt humanism. The main character, Jim Corwin, is basically a Jesus figure, which sort of defeated the purpose of the book being a statement on serious medical research. Nonetheless, it's worth reading.