The
Lobotomist’s
Wife
by
Samantha Greene Woodruff
Inspired by a shocking chapter in medical history, The Lobotomist’s Wife is a galvanizing and enthralling historical novel of a compassionate and relentless woman, a cutting-edge breakthrough in psychiatry, and a nightmare in the making.
About The Lobotomist’s Wife
An enthralling historical novel of a compassionate and relentless woman, a cutting-edge breakthrough in psychiatry, and a nightmare in the making.
Since her brother took his life after WWI, Ruth Emeraldine has had one goal: to help those suffering from mental illness. Then she falls in love with charismatic Robert Apter—a brilliant doctor championing a radical new treatment, the lobotomy. Ruth believes in it as a miracle treatment and in Robert as its genius pioneer. But as her husband spirals into deluded megalomania, Ruth can’t ignore her growing suspicions. Robert is operating on patients recklessly, often with horrific results. And a vulnerable young mother, Margaret Baxter, is poised to be his next victim.
Margaret can barely get out of bed, let alone care for her infant. When Dr. Apter diagnoses her with the baby blues and proposes a lobotomy, she believes the procedure is her only hope. Only Ruth can save her—and scores of others—from the harrowing consequences of Robert’s ambitions.
Inspired by a shocking chapter in medical history, The Lobotomist’s Wife is a galvanizing novel of a woman fighting against the most grievous odds, of ego, and of the best intentions gone horribly awry.
Praise for the Book
“Dramatic and compelling, this is also a cautionary tale.”
“Based on extraordinary real-life events, The Lobotomist’s Wife is a riveting and impressive debut that had me in its grasp from the very first page… I simply could not put it down.”
- Paulette Kennedy, bestselling author of Parting The Veil
“The Lobotomist's Wife shines a light onto an underreported but fascinating aspect of medical history. Both tense and informative, this is a timely story not only of hubris and ambition, but also of empathy and the search for truth.”
- Elise Hooper, bestselling author of Fast Girls
“In her stunning debut, Samantha Woodruff explores the fascinating world of mid-century mental health treatments with a deft attention to rich historical detail and memorable characters who carry the story with heart and heft. With an artfully structured second story-line and a propulsive ending, Woodruff has skillfully crafted a novel with an underlying theme so relevant to the struggles of modern day. I absolutely loved this novel and can’t wait to see what she does next!”
- Susie Orman Schnall, bestselling author of We Came Here To Shine
Woodruff easily pulls the reader into this story of a gifted man with the best of intentions slowly spinning out of control, and the woman who loves him gradually realizing that he must be stopped. Carefully researched and detailed, The Lobotomist’s Wife emerges as a strong cautionary tale about the madness of power gone unchecked. A skillful debut!
- Shana Abe, New York Times bestselling author of The Second Mrs. Astor
“A dazzling, page-turning debut, The Lobotomist's Wife is the shocking tale of a pioneering lobotomist and his devoted ambitious wife. Not only did I stay up reading past midnight to find out what happened in this fascinating portrait of a marriage and mental hospital, the pitch-perfect ending thrilled me to the core.”
- Brooke Lea Foster, bestselling author of On Gin Lane
Brooke Lea Foster, author of Summer Darlings
About Samantha
Samantha Greene Woodruff has a BA in history from Wesleyan University and an MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business. The Lobotomist’s Wife is her first novel, and she is already at work on her next historical fiction book.
