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The Lobotomist's Wife: A Novel Kindle Edition

by Samantha Greene Woodruff (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 19,533 ratings
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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.

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  1. Print length
    298 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Lake Union Publishing
  5. Publication date
    February 1, 2022
  6. File size
    3876 KB
  7. Page Flip
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  8. Word Wise
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  9. Enhanced typesetting
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  1. Sometimes, the best you can do for someone is to stand beside them, appreciate their strength, and acknowledge their pain.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Dramatic and compelling…” —Historical Novel Society

“A fascinating and quick read. The author, Samantha Greene Woodruff, modified just the right elements to create an engaging storyline while retaining the critical historical information.” —Relevant Reading

“Samantha’s fictionalized novel sheds light on the real-life atrocities endured by so many during a time when maladies of the mind were so misunderstood. The focus placed on mental illness in The Lobotomist’s Wife certainly make it a timely read due to the attention placed on this topic since the beginning of the pandemic. This historically-inspired story allows readers to see the progress made in the treatment of mental illness through the years.” —Hope Magazine

“A compassionate historical fiction.” —The Voice Magazine

“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. Samantha Greene Woodruff has crafted a suspenseful tale of good intentions gone awry that features an indomitable heroine who finds her strength and voice in the midst of harrowing circumstances. I simply could not put it down.” —Paulette Kennedy, author of Parting the Veil

“In her stunning debut, Samantha Greene Woodruff explores the fascinating world of midcentury mental health treatments with deft attention to rich historical detail and memorable characters who carry the story with heart and heft. Woodruff has skillfully crafted a novel with an artfully structured second story line, a propulsive ending, and an underlying theme so relevant to the struggles of the modern day. I absolutely loved this novel and can’t wait to see what she does next!” —Susie Orman Schnall, author of We Came Here to Shine

“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, author of Summer Darlings

“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 Abé, New York Times bestselling author of The Second Mrs. Astor

“The Lobotomist’s Wife is a stunning exploration of blind ambition gone awry and the sacrifices one extraordinary woman must make in order to protect innocent people from harm. Woodruff impresses both with her prose and her mastery of this challenging subject matter. Readers are sure to be drawn to this compelling and relatable debut.” —Lynda Loigman author of Two Family House and The Wartime Sisters

From the Publisher

A supposed miracle cure goes completely awry in the hands of a megalomaniac. It sounds far-fetched, but this novel is inspired by the real-life story of the doctor who introduced the lobotomy to the United States. Heralded as a cure for depression, headaches, and even the “baby blues,” lobotomy eventually fell out of favor, and with good reason. Many patients suffered extreme trauma post-procedure; some became catatonic, others violent. And many died. But the same doctor who championed this gruesome treatment refused to stop, continuing to perform lobotomies, often alone in his own office, using what he referred to as the “ice pick” method.

When author Samantha Greene Woodruff came across this story, she was fascinated. What if someone had tried to stop him? From there she invented Ruth Apter, a brilliant woman who falls for the charismatic Dr. Robert Apter. He’s her equal in intellect and in his devotion to revolutionizing psychiatric treatment. But as the medical community abandons lobotomies, Dr. Apter becomes increasingly driven and deluded. When Ruth sees his passion turn to deadly obsession, she knows she’s the only one who can stop him. Both a propulsive page-turner and a chilling tale, this is a riveting story of a woman who risks everything to do what is right.

—Jodi Warshaw, Editor

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B096RXSMX8
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lake Union Publishing (February 1, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 1, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3876 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 298 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 19,533 ratings

About the author

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Samantha Greene Woodruff

Samantha Greene Woodruff

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Samantha Greene Woodruff has a BA in history from Wesleyan University and an MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business. She became a novelist by accident and cannot believe her luck. Sam spent fifteen years putting her MBA to decent use at Viacom’s Nickelodeon, before leaving corporate life to become a full-time mom. In her newfound “free” time, she tried her hand at fiction writing at the Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College. It was here that she found her true calling as a historical fiction author, a job that she believes perfectly combines her multifaceted background with her wild imagination and passion for history, reading, and writing. Sam’s debut novel, The Lobotomist’s Wife, was an #1 Amazon bestseller and First Reads pick. Her writing has appeared in Newsweek, Writer’s Digest, Female First, Read 650 and more. Her second novel, The Trade Off, will be released in the Fall of 2024 by Lake Union.

Sam lives in southern Connecticut with her husband, two children, two dogs and a small reptile zoo. In her current “free” time she can be found in the yoga studio, at a concert, singing Taylor Swift at the top of her lungs in the car, or out for a long walk with a friend.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
19,533 global ratings
Engaging
5 Stars
Engaging
In this historical fiction novel, I was so engaged that it was hard to put it down.Ruth was one of the characters that stood out the most because she was caring and made sure to treat every patient fairly despite their mental illness. Ruth was committed to helping every patient in the ward which is where she met doctor Robert Apter. Hungry for a breakthrough in psychiatry, Robert begins to be in the medical spotlight with such discovery and becomes obsessed with treating lobotomy.This story was sooo interesting and informative as this explains how they used to label certain mental illnesses, which in this story relates more to PTSD in soldiers.I super loved this book! There are tons of real facts about lobotomy and the ability to integrateThe narrations were on point, the voice was so soothing and made the story sound three times better.PS. This is apparently based on a true story of Dr. Freeman on the discovery of “ice pick lobotomy” google it ;)
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Top reviews from the United States

JM Spade
5.0 out of 5 stars Don't touch my brain
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2022
Verified Purchase
What would you be willing to do to cure your mental illness?

At a time in history when people tended to trust and believe doctors without explanation, mental illness was new and emerging. Therefore, families of those who "didn't act right" were quick to jump at the opportunity to "fix" their loved ones, even when the stakes were high and the treatment seemed rather dangerous. Blindly following Dr. Apter's lead seems like the only option.

Labeled a spinster, Ruth Emeraldine has spent her time as an administrator of a mental institution rather than finding love. When a cocky new physician interviews in her office, he is charming and well spoken. Not only does he get the job at Emeraldine Hospital, he wins the heart of Ruth.

Thanks to their shared interest of treating mental illness, they spend their time learning all they can and bringing it back to their patients. But this new treatment called lobotomy? It seems promising. And as the data from their first procedures begins to be collected, things are promising.

Alas, Jesus take the wheel. Dr. Apter's pride gets in the way of safety as he finds a "better" way to perform a lobotomy and it might not be the best way. Will Ruth trust her gut and turn a blind eye or advocate for the patients she so dearly loves?

This audiobook kept me entertained from the first chapter. The narrator was clear and easy to understand, even at faster speeds. The author really painted a picture for me and I felt compassion for the patients as well as Ruth. Honestly, Ruth would have made a brilliant nurse in my opinion. One thing I did love was that the author was able to describe what was being done in a way that was not filled with gore or that would be disturbing to non-medical people.

This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys medical fiction or historical fiction. And I absolutely recommend the audiobook for those that enjoy listening.

Thank you Brilliance Audio for this copy and allowing me to give my honest opinion.
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Kirsten
4.0 out of 5 stars the lobotomist’s wife
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2024
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A slow burn for sure. It was a little hard to get through the first half and then it finally picked up speed and the ending was very quick and satisfying still. It was a good book.
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Steven Ramirez
5.0 out of 5 stars The Truth Will Set You Free
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2022
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Lobotomy is a terrifying word. For someone to cut into a human brain expecting the patient to benefit is, well, diabolical. Yet, a pioneer of psychosurgery, Egas Moniz, received a Nobel prize for the procedure in 1949. After WWII and continuing into the late 1960s, thousands of lobotomies were performed in the US, primarily on women. And guess what—they usually got worse. If that isn’t a horror movie, I don’t know what is.

The Lobotomist’s Wife by Samantha Greene Woodruff is not horror fiction. Instead, it’s a well-written, thoughtful account of a woman committed to helping patients who have not responded to traditional treatments. Ruth Emeraldine is bright and caring. Though not a medical doctor, she understands medicine and its role. And, without exception, she puts the patient first.

When Ruth meets Robert Apter, she’s blinded by his brilliance and infectious enthusiasm for innovative treatment of the mentally and emotionally disturbed. After attending a medical conference, Robert is convinced that lobotomy—or leucotomy—is the answer. What’s more, he believes the procedure will make him famous.

The author based Apter on real-life lobotomist Walter J. Freeman. The story is filled with rich historical detail, and other real-life characters such as Rosemary Kennedy make an appearance. My favorite aspect of the book is seeing Robert’s gradual, deliberate descent into megalomania. It’s heartbreaking when Ruth attempts to save him. And frightening when he continues to travel from state to state to perform the procedure.

If you’re looking for a thrilling and satisfying tale of psychological fiction, then The Lobotomist’s Wife should be on your reading list.
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Tiffany
3.0 out of 5 stars A Compelling and Quick Read—I wish it had more depth!
Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2022
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After discovering Prime First Reads for the first time the other day, I was drawn toward this ebook by the title and cover art. I was really looking forward to this read as I adore historical fiction and topics that might create a thrill. This book was a quick and interesting read. I did enjoy it for what it was, but found it to be lacking in some areas. Let me explain.

What I loved: I enjoyed Ruth as a strong female lead. She went against the status quo by thriving in a career that was usually “suited” for men.

This novel was pretty well paced, in my opinion. Sometimes there were time jumps of many years, but this actually worked very well for the plot, as much of it centers around Ruth and Robert’s progress in their career.

The plot topic was interesting, and I found myself wanting to know more about the sciences of lobotomy.

What I didn’t love: The characters felt shallow and without depth. I feel as if they were presented at a surface value and I would have liked to see them fleshed our more. Ruth and Robert’s relationship bloomed rather quickly (at least that’s how it felt) without the sensual details leading up to it. The secondary characters seemed quite stereotyped, which I don’t always mind—it was just that I wish I could have gotten to know them on a more personal level.

I didn’t enjoy Margaret. I understand her place in the story, but from her small moment in the beginning and in the middle, it seemed that she was supposed to have a larger role. It felt like she was an an afterthought. If she’d been in more of the store as a more in-depth secondary plot, this may have worked.

Although the plot was an intriguing idea, I was left with a longing for more details. I liked the characters and the plot, but wished I could have felt like I was acting in their POV instead of a spectator. Their was a lack of sensual details, and I had a difficult time feeling emotionally attached to the characters.

This didn’t feel much like historical fiction because I wasn’t drawn into the world with details. This took place in the 1950s, but if not for the aspect of lobotomy or the occasional reminder of a woman’s place as a homemaker, wife, and mother of the ‘50s, this really could have taken place at any time. There was a lack of detail for clothing, environment, or even just small details that might have taken me back to this era.

The climax and ending was disappointing. I was hoping that their would be more conflict and tension with the characters leading up to the climax between Ruth and Robert. It seemed to happen all of a sudden without much details to make me feel the tension, misery or pain of the two most important characters in the book.

Conclusion: Overall, I didn’t dislike this. It was a nice, quick read on my Kindle that was somewhat charming and had an intriguing complex—it was just lacking more detail. Still, if you’re looking for something light and dips slightly into the dark side of controversial medical practices, this may be for you!
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Top reviews from other countries

Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars exceptionally well written
Reviewed in Canada on April 25, 2022
Verified Purchase
So much of this story touches on true occurrences. It reveals some shocking medical practices and exposes some of the treatments and realities for patients who battles mental illness in a time with little options and varying opinions and lack of understanding. It is shocking to consider the desperation many patients and families would have felt.
The story came together with exceptional characters and storyline. Tremendously well written book that was informative and entertaining at the same time. And it was eye opening and allows appreciation for the progress and advancement in medicine that is forever changing.
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Bárbara R.
4.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly interesting
Reviewed in Mexico on February 20, 2022
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Really enjoyed this book. The only reason not to give five stars was that the first 130 something pages I was about to put it down because I felt it was boring BIT then I loved it!!!!! I didn't know anything about the history of lobotomy so this book really taught me a lot that I wasn't expecting. I highly recommend it.
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Birdnerd
5.0 out of 5 stars A vivid, gripping read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 8, 2024
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What a fabulous book! This was so thoroughly researched that more than once I broke off reading to check details in Wikipedia. This is an intricate fictionalised account of the introduction of lobotomy in America. It’s written as a vivid story which culminates as a thriller. The characters are beautifully drawn and this lures you into the very human aspects of this story. I was amazed to read in the epilogue that this is a debut novel! I will certainly look forward to any more written by Samantha Greene Woodruff.
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Jess Williams
4.0 out of 5 stars Average read bit unique topic
Reviewed in Australia on February 9, 2022
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I was leaning more towards the 3 star review until I read the authors note at the end. I do love a well researched book, and I absolutely appreciate the dedication the author had to historical accuracies and representations of the era. The feminist in me raged a lot about the dismissal of women's place in the workforce and opportunities for education, but I felt like it was an accurate depiction of attitudes at the time. I found the storytelling quite shallow and I struggled to overly invest in the characters, however - the development of Ruths' understanding of the impact of the procedure and the behaviour of her husband was written well. I'd still lean more towards a 3.5 star than a 4, but the topic was so interesting and unique, and the research the author did and likeness to historical facts was admirable.
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Yvan Clermont
4.0 out of 5 stars An overzealous doctor.
Reviewed in Canada on April 16, 2022
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Good plot but highly unlikely that hospitals and public opinion would allow such a high number of experimental operations on a high number of patients. Entertaining story and an easy read.
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