Editors’ Pick
Designed to Feel by Peter Burchardt
Designed to Feelby Peter Burchardt — on emotions, evolution & the science of feeling
View on Amazon →
Cover of The Healer's War
Historical Fiction· United States

The Healer's War

by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough
Aggregate Editorial Score50/100
★Nebula Award
Published 1989335 pagesEnglish
Buy on Amazon →

About This Book

Published in 1989, The Healer's War established Elizabeth Ann Scarborough as one of the defining voices in historical fiction. A nurse in Vietnam is given a magical amulet by a dying shaman that allows her to see people's auras and make moral choices she otherwise could not. Scarborough's Nebula Award winner uses the supernatural to interrogate the moral complexity of wartime medicine. Themes of Vietnam War, nursing, magic run through the work. The book has received recognition from Nebula Award 1989.

Book Details

AuthorElizabeth Ann Scarborough
Published1989
Country of Origin🇺🇸 United States
LanguageEnglish
Pages335
Category🗺️ Historical Fiction
ISBN9780385240758
Editorial Score50/100
About the Category

🗺️ Historical Fiction

Novels set in the past, blending real events with fictional narratives.

Explore all Historical Fiction books →
Country of Origin

🇺🇸 United States

This book is part of United States's rich literary tradition.

Explore books from United States →

Editorial Assessment

Elizabeth Ann Scarborough published The Healer's War in 1989, and it has since become one of the more widely recognised works of historical fiction from United States. The book's treatment of Vietnam War, nursing, magic, moral choices accounts for much of its enduring reputation. The book's place in the literary record rests on its presence across major prize lists and critical surveys. Among its recognitions: Nebula Award 1989. Its aggregate editorial score of 50/100 reflects recognition from 1 independent editorial sources, from international prizes to specialist critical journals. What distinguishes The Healer's War is how it handles its central concerns — Vietnam War, nursing, magic, moral choices — without reducing them to neat conclusions. The book invites close reading and holds up well to it. The Healer's War reflects Elizabeth Ann Scarborough's place in a wider literary tradition. The book's concerns resonate with United States's broader cultural preoccupations, even as they reach beyond any single national context.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.

Awards & Recognition

Nebula Award
winner · genre
198944
✍️
About the Author
Elizabeth Ann Scarborough
United States
View Author →

Elizabeth Ann Scarborough is a celebrated author from United States known for influential works of historical fiction.

The Happiness Blueprint
New Release by Peter Burchardt
The Happiness Blueprint
Your Evolutionary Guide to Joy, Purpose, and Lasting Well-Being
Happiness isn’t a destination — it’s a blueprint written in your DNA.
Get It on Amazon →Paperback & Kindle

What to Read Next

Cover of Midnight's Children
literary-fiction

Midnight's Children

Salman Rushdie· 1981
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The God of Small Things
literary-fiction

The God of Small Things

Arundhati Roy· 1997
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of Wolf Hall
historical-fiction

Wolf Hall

Hilary Mantel· 2009
★Booker Prize★Costa Book Award
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The Tin Drum
literary-fiction

The Tin Drum

Günter Grass· 1999
★Nobel Prize in Literature
Editorial Score98/100
Cover of Celestial Bodies
literary-fiction

Celestial Bodies

Jokha Alharthi· 2010
★Booker Prize
Editorial Score93/100
Cover of A Brief History of Seven Killings
literary-fiction

A Brief History of Seven Killings

Marlon James· 2015
★Booker Prize
Editorial Score89/100

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Healer's War about?

A nurse in Vietnam is given a magical amulet by a dying shaman that allows her to see people's auras and make moral choices she otherwise could not. Scarborough's Nebula Award winner uses the supernatural to interrogate the moral complexity of wartime medicine.

Who wrote The Healer's War?

The Healer's War was written by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough, from United States. First published in 1989.

What awards has The Healer's War won?

The Healer's War has received the following awards and honours: Nebula Award 1989.

Is The Healer's War worth reading?

The Healer's War is a notable work that has earned critical attention, with an aggregate editorial score of 44/100 on 50 Best Books, based on mentions across 1 editorial source. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in Vietnam War, nursing, magic.

Where can I buy The Healer's War?

You can buy The Healer's War on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is The Healer's War?

The Healer's War is classified as Historical Fiction. Novels set in the past, blending real events with fictional narratives.

What country is The Healer's War from?

The Healer's War originates from United States's literary tradition. Explore more books from United States on our country page.

Popular on 50 Best Books

Best Science Fiction Books of All TimeScience FictionBooker Prize Winners — Complete List & GuideLiterary PrizesNobel Prize in Literature — Every Winner Since 1901Literary PrizesClassic Literature Reading List — 50 Essential BooksReading GuidesBest Books for Beginners — 20 Easy Reads for New BookloversReading Guides

Explore More

🗺️More Historical FictionBrowse all Historical Fiction books🇺🇸Books from United States🇺🇸 United States literature📅1980s BooksPublished in the 1980s🏆Top 50 RankingsThe greatest books of all time