Iscjelitelj

Noah Gordon's novel The Healer follows the life of Rob J. Cole, an 11th-century English orphan whose life is changed by an encounter with traveling surgeon Henry Croft. Rob discovers his gift – the ability to sense the life energy of others, which leads him to medicine. After Croft's death, Rob embarks on a journey to hone his skills, learning about a famous medical school in Persia, Isfahan, where the great physician Avicenna (Ibn Sina) teaches.

In order to enroll in the school, Rob faces numerous obstacles: he is a Christian, and the school only accepts Muslims and Jews. He decides to introduce himself as a Jew, taking the name Jesse ben Benjamin, and travels a dangerous path through Europe and the Middle East. Along the way, he encounters wars, disease, and cultural differences. In Isfahan, he meets Avicenna and learns advanced medical techniques, but also struggles with internal conflicts over his false identity.

Rob falls in love with Mary, a Christian woman he meets on his journey, and their relationship further complicates his life. The novel explores themes of faith, identity, medical ethics, and the quest for knowledge, as Rob tries to reconcile his ideals with the challenges of the medieval world. After completing his studies, Rob returns to England, where he uses his knowledge to heal, but faces prejudice and danger.