The Woman with the Cure

By: Lynn Cullen

Narrated by: Hillary Huber

"Huge applause... women have always been in science—despite those who would pretend otherwise.”—Bonnie Garmus, New York Times bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry

She gave up everything—and changed the world.

A riveting novel based on the true story of the woman who stopped a pandemic, from the bestselling author of Mrs. Poe.

In 1940s and ’50s America, polio is as dreaded as the atomic bomb. No one’s life is untouched by this disease that kills or paralyzes its victims, particularly children. Outbreaks of the virus across the country regularly put American cities in lockdown. Some of the world’s best minds are engaged in the race to find a vaccine. The man who succeeds will be a god.

But Dorothy Horstmann is not focused on beating her colleagues to the vaccine. She just wants the world to have a cure. Applying the same determination that lifted her from a humble background as the daughter of immigrants, to becoming a doctor–often the only woman in the room–she hunts down the monster where it lurks: in the blood.

This discovery of hers, and an error by a competitor, catapults her closest colleague to a lead in the race. When his chance to win comes on a worldwide scale, she is asked to sink or validate his vaccine—and to decide what is forgivable, and how much should be sacrificed, in pursuit of the cure.

©2023 Lynn Cullen (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“The Woman with the Cure is a scrupulously researched history lesson wrapped up in a modern exploration of the evolving role women have played in society. Dorothy Horstmann and her contemporaries deserve their place in America’s medical hall of fame and Lynn Cullen’s resurrection has done them justice.”—Atlanta Journal Constitution

“Everyone knows Sabin and Salk created the polio vaccine, but without the work of Dr. Dorothy Horstmann, there never would have been a vaccine in the first place. So huge applause to The Woman With the Cure for bringing Dorothy's brilliant work to the forefront—and for reminding us that women have always been in science—despite those who would pretend otherwise.”—Bonnie Garmus, New York Times bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry

“The warm and wonderful The Woman with the Cure, brings brilliantly to life the story of the real Dorothy Horstmann, whose extraordinary discovery made possible the vaccines that ended the polio pandemic of the 1940s and 50s. Lynn Cullen’s novel deftly breaks down the science and brilliantly delivers a complex cast of characters in a compelling page-turner of a novel about the race for the cure to that pandemic, and pulls from the shadows of history this extraordinary woman who literally changed our world. I could not put this astounding story down.”—Meg Waite Clayton, international bestselling author of The Postmistress of Paris

great listen

can not imagine writing a book about a pandemic during a pandemic, Lynn Cullen has written an incredible story with all the angst and emotions! I found myself so angered because of the culture and medicine of the time and yet so elated with Dorothy's triumph! It was a great audiobook!

sience and the struggle to do no harm

I like the sience background and human intrest stories, that told about personal life of the main caracters.

Interesting and informative

This book made me realize how little I knew about polio. The politics and sexism in scientific research are well described, and sadly little has changed in 70 years.

Great historical fiction

I really enjoyed the story, the characters, and the narration. Definitely recommend it!! It reminds you of the many untold stories of the influential women in science...and in life.

Learned much and loved this book

Intelligent author, very well written. peaked my curiosity about different scientists; to learn the history of the polio and the research and accomplishments in science done by these special women. Interesting view into the world of Albert Sabin and Jonas Salk.

Author Lynn Cullen is also very special.
Hillary Huber is a PERFECT narrator. She is my favorite.
I enjoyed this book very, very much. I am pleased to highly recommend to everyone.

Sappy romantic fabrication of her life

Gratuitous sex to sell books. Did learn more about the development of the polio vaccine.