Set against the backdrop of pre-World War I Germany, Fraulien Doktor follows Margot, a bright and stubborn young woman from a middle-class family. Her dream is simple and radical: to earn a medical degree. We follow her from her first, shaky steps into a university lecture hall—where she's often the only woman—through grueling exams, chilly receptions from professors, and the loneliness of being a pioneer. The plot moves between her academic struggles and her personal life, showing the cost her ambition has on family expectations and potential romances. It's a straightforward journey of one woman trying to carve a path where there wasn't one.

Why You Should Read It

This book got under my skin. Margot isn't a flawless hero; she's prickly, sometimes arrogant, and deeply vulnerable. You feel her frustration in your bones. Lehne writes with a quiet clarity that makes the historical setting feel immediate. It's not a flashy story with big twists, but the tension comes from the very real, everyday obstacles. Will she be allowed to take the exam? Can she handle the dissection class when everyone expects her to faint? The themes of quiet perseverance and the price of ambition are timeless. I found myself thinking about all the 'first' women in various fields long after I put the book down.

Final Verdict

Perfect for readers who love character-driven historical fiction. If you enjoyed books that explore the personal side of social change, like a less romanticized version of a Call the Midwife backstory, this is for you. It's not a fast-paced thriller; it's a thoughtful, sometimes frustrating, and ultimately rewarding portrait of a woman who refused to stay in her assigned place. A solid pick for your book club if you want to discuss history, gender, and the quiet battles that change the world.