A Dublin Student Doctor

An Irish Country Novel

By: Patrick Taylor

Narrated by: John Keating

Patrick Taylor's devoted listeners oknow Doctor Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly as a pugnacious general practitioner in the quaint Irish village of Ballybucklebo. Now Taylor turns back the clock to give us a portrait of the young Fingal—and show us the pivotal events that shaped the man he would become.

In the 1930s, fresh from a stint in the Royal Navy Reserve, and against the wishes of his disapproving father, Fingal O'Reilly goes to Dublin to study medicine. Fingal and his fellow aspiring doctors face the arduous demands of Trinity College and Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital. The hours are long and the cases challenging, but Fingal manages to find time to box and play rugby—and to romance a fetching, gray-eyed nurse named Kitty O'Hallorhan.

Dublin is a city of slums and tenements, where brutal poverty breeds diseases that the limited medical knowledge of the time is often ill-equipped to handle. His teachers warn Fingal not to become too attached to his patients, but can he truly harden himself to the suffering he sees all around him—or can he find a way to care for his patients without breaking his heart?

A Dublin Student Doctor is a moving, deeply human story that will touch longtime fans of the Irish Country Books series as well as readers who are meeting Doctor Fingal O'Reilly for the very first time.

©2011 Patrick Taylor (P)2011 Macmillan Audio

How It All Began

From reading all previous books, I had already figured out a good bit of Dr. O'Reilly's former life. Still, it was interesting to learn the details. I enjoyed the book and can hardly wait for the next one. I was hoping this one would be about Barry's new life, but I have a feeling we will have to wait awhile for that one. I suspect that the next book will be about Dr. O'Reilly's life with Diedre (I'm not certain how to spell her name). What ever topic Mr. Taylor chooses will be read by me ASAP. I enjoy his stories and find Mr. Keating's voice to be perfect for the part. I just wish women could read the women's parts. Men trying to replicate women's voices just sounds silly.

Great story

I really enjoyed how this book couched dr ore illy'a story as a young man within a current event within the series. I also appreciate the historical novel aspect of this book. I very much like the narrator and his efforts complemented by information within these books to learn about the various dialects and use of words and phrases according to different regions and classes.
This story is more sober than many of the others. While there is humor, I wasn't laughing or having the chuckles often such as the last one. I enjoyed just as much as any.

Please Please Please Listen

This is among the best books I have listened to. It speaks to the heart and soul, everyone could relate, it encompasses all the emotions of life, love, fear, desire, need for accomplishmment and most importantly ones responsiblity to family. You feel the story, it is narrated with perfection.

A satisfying medical story

These stories reflecting this era in medicine are dear to my heart. I love the characters and the realistic account of medical practice in this period of time..
The narrator is terrific and gives the stories personality.

The best in the series so far.

A gentle heartwarming story, Patrick Taylor paints a beautiful word picture with soft strokes.
A beautiful story in the midst of this current world filled with murder and violence.
Fantastic.