Lucius Krzelewski is a disappointment to his prominent and wealthy family. Although of Polish descent, the Krzelewski family moved to Vienna in the late 1800’s where social and business connections could be made and family fortunes enhanced. But Lucius, unable to manage even the simple niceties of drawing room conversations, or display any interest in his father’s obsession with regimental honor and war tactics, or the family’s far-flung business interests, is seen by the family as a liability and left to his own devices. So in 1912, when he announces that he will begin medical school, his mother although disappointed with his choice, is not all that surprised. For Lucius however, medical school is a revelation. Here he excels and his social ineptitude vanishes. He loves learning and the deep mysteries of the human body allow room for his endless curiosity.

But before he can complete his studies, war breaks out and Lucius decides to join the medical corp where he hopes that he will have more opportunities for actual medical experience. He is sent to a small regimental field hospital staffed by two experienced doctors in the Carpathian Mountains. But when he arrives he finds that the hospital is located in a recently bombed church and that they are in the midst of an outbreak of typhus. The doctors are either dead or have fled and the hospital is being run by a young woman in religious orders named Sister Margarete.

Lucius quickly finds how little he knows, but under the guidance of Sister Margarete he quickly learns the basics, of how to amputate and care for battle wounds. It is however the wounds that show no scars, the wounds of the mind that are most compelling to Lucius. The inexplicable loss of memory, the catatonic stress, the bodies contorted by immobility and stiff joints and fingers. Then a young sergeant, József Horváth, is brought to the hospital, his coat is filled with strange drawings, and like so many others, disoriented and often catatonic. Mystified and strangely drawn to Horváth, Lucius begins to treat him, a decision that has far reaching consequences not only for Horváth, but for Lucius, Sister Margarete and the entire hospital as well.

This book reminded me of Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese as Mason describes the feelings and insights of doctors and nurses who care for patients they do not know how to treat and All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doer for the insightful and lyrical prose Mason uses to describe the lives of ordinary people caught up in the gritty nastiness of war. Beautifully written, this is a war story that contains both mystery and romance and celebrates the resilience and courage of people caught up in circumstances beyond their control.

Brenda’s Rating: *****(5 Out of 5 Stars)

Recommend this book to: Marian, Keith, Sharon and Ken

Book Study Worthy? Yes

Read in ebook format.