The Good Healer: The Six-Fingered Healer Who Was No Devil

Dimitrije Medenica
CreateSpace (2010)
ISBN 9781453657034
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (08/10)

In the early 15th Century, when Jean Duchesne enters the world, it is a very rough time for his family.  They are poor indentured servants who are trying to survive a cold winter.  When it is discovered that he is born with a sixth finger, things get worse. Because of his deformity, his parents are accused of consorting with the devil.  The family is forced out into the cold of winter by the townspeople.  Unfortunately, it is too much for his parents to endure. Fortunately, Jean is rescued by a healer. Worried about his extra finger, she tries to protect him from the attacks of others as he grows. In turn, he learns her healing skills.  When matters force him to leave his home, he continues to practice his healing trade.

Jean has “modern” ideas.  These include not bleeding a patient and providing a healthy environment in which they can heal.  As he goes about helping people, he develops a good reputation.  When he finds people to help him finance a clinic, he jumps at the chance to do so. He also meets the love of his life, Anthonia.  She helps him to achieve his dreams.

Unfortunately, Jean’s success stirs up jealous people. Especially with the healers who are losing patients to him.  He is more than willing to teach them his ways, which in his eyes, would allow more people to be healed, but the people would rather remain jealous. His unusual methods of healing and success attract the attention of The Grand Inquisitor.  This does not bode well for the couple. While their desire is to heal people, the Grand Inquisitor’s desire is to take control of Jean’s possessions and wealth.  Accusing him of consorting with the devil is the best way to accomplish this. Knowing that people are being killed for their wealth, while being falsely accused of evil misdoings, is very troubling to Jean. He knows that he will not be given a fair chance to prove his innocence.  Jean has to rely on his wife and trusted friends to survive this situation.

In “The Good Healer,” Dimitrije Medenica has done a phenomenally good job writing a story that immediately drew me in and kept me hooked until the very end.  It was interesting to read a tale about healing methods during the medieval times.  Having to constantly worry about doing something unusual that would attract attention and be deemed demonic would not be a great motivator to want to make a difference for people. The risk of having your family murdered or your wealth taken away would force most people to hide from the spotlight.  In this story, this was not the case because Jean and Anthonia truly wanted to help people heal, including ones who couldn’t pay for their treatments.  Not going into hiding did get the couple in trouble.  However, it also helped them introduce new ways to help people heal.  Jean and Anthonia also show us that true love can overcome severe hardships.  I highly recommend this novel.

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