Carmelita Calderwood Novels
Orthopedic Nursing
Carmelita had the nonfiction piece Orthopedic Nursing published in 1941. She used her expertise with polio to write the book in tandem with Dr. Robert Funsten. She received an advance of $2,500 which Hearst remarked in his autobiography of his jealousy since poetry didn't pay well.
Working with Dr. Funsten, they were able to produce a text of descriptions of diseases and treatments for such. The pages were filled with diagrams and pictures that represented people aiding and treating afflicted persons and showed specialized slings in use.
This book, unlike her fiction work Bonesetter's Brawl, did sell quite well. It became the go-to textbook in the field for many years, teaching thousands of students.
Bonesetter's Brawl
Posthumously edited and self-published by James Hearst in 1979, Bonesetter's Brawl is a work of fiction, a mystery set in a world the author knew well, the world of orthopedic nursing. Bonesetter is actually an antiquated term for an orthopedist. Originally titled The Curious Harp, referring to a quote from Bacon, this book is a mystery novel that focuses on describing a university hospital during the 1940s and upon a murder mystery, wherein the staff begins receiving threatening letters in the mail. While fighting poliomyelitis (polio), the doctors in her story must also try to identify and fight an unknown killer. The picture to the right is the cover.
Posthumously edited and self-published by James Hearst in 1979, Bonesetter's Brawl is a mystery fiction piece set in the world of orthopedic nursing. Bonesetter is actually an antiquated term for an orthopedist. The book was originally titled The Curious Harp as a reference to a Francis Bacon quote but was changed. The plot is set in a university hospital during the 1940s where after a murder occurs, the staff begins receiving threatening letters in the mail. While fighting poliomytelitis (polio), the doctors must also identify and fight an unknown killer.
Sadly the novel didn't sell well, however it represented Carmelita's skills as a writer and Hearst's determination to see it edited and published after her death.