Virginia Cornell

Love this book! Doc Susie is larger than life, a petite woman doctor who from early 1900's through early 1950's cares deeply for her patients: the lumberjacks, miners and rail workers of Fraser, Colorado. No nonsense Susan Anderson, doesn't tolerate fools, demands and GETS total compliance from the town's men, women and children.

An authoritarian father who abandoned and divorced first wife, Susan's and brother John's mother, causing irreparable emotional pain. His re-marrying a woman not much older than Susan, who demeans oldest children so income would be used for her and her 3 children. This further alienated Susan and John and taught them independence and self-reliance. They weren't totally estranged from father but after he convinces her fiance to desert her, Susan has had enough. She completes medical degree, finds work, but ends up with TB because of exhausting care of children with diptheria.

She comes to the cold, dry climate of Faser to heal and makes it her home. She gives her all to the poor, hard-working folks there, and they give her their love. loyalty and support in return.

I especially enjoyed reading about the history of the Northwestern and Pacific Railway, crossing The Continental Divide, and the back-breaking work it demanded and took for granted from employees. How these men who toiled in life-threatning conditions were underpaid and misused especially when corrupt Bill Freeman became man in charge angered the town as well as Doc Susie.

The mistreatment was especially bad during construction of tunnels to improve the safety of train travel. Somehow after the tunnels were completed, many railroad employees were fired but Freeman and his buddies became wealthy!

Beautiful love story between an exceptional bright and strong-minded doctor and the people of Fraser.… (mehr)

What a great biography about a pioneer woman doctor. I love that the author really got personal with Doc Susie's wish to get married and have children but she did not despair when that did not happen. She originally went to the mountains of Colorado to die or try to recover from Tuberculosis but since she didn't die, she said. "I guess I will get on with the business of living."
Over the years she saved so many lives and brought so many babies into the world. I really loved the way she inspired the people that built the tunnel to stand up for themselves when the tunnel was finally completed. What a great lady she was.… (mehr)