The Good Doctor
Vince Agro
November 2011
300 pages | ISBN 978-1-894987-61-5
**Winner of the 2012 F.G. Bressani Literary Prize for Fiction**
Hamilton's Italian community comes to vibrant life in this World War II–era novel. Told as a tale during a winter night, The Good Doctor follows the efforts of Doctor Vincenzo Arcone to fight the forces of fascism within his community and prejudice without. Filled with vibrant characters, striking depictions of Hamilton as a thriving city and intriguing historical details, The Good Doctor is a compelling tale, one that deals with age-old themes of identity and belonging in a fresh way.
Reviews
Ex-mayor’s novel tells a story from Hamilton’s past (Jeff Mahoney, TheRecord, 20/01/2012)
"The bigger story is nothing less than the great north Hamilton narrative of Italian immigration, especially from Racalmuto, Sicily."
Agro’s musings on North End life anything but novel (Hamilton Spectator, 09/12/2011)
"It’s a powerful story, full of tenderness, pain and humour."
Articles
5 novels set in Hamilton (Samantha Craggs, CBC News, 15/06/2014)
“This novel, set during the Second World War, profiles Hamilton’s Italian community. Dr. Vincenzo Arcone ‘fights the forces of fascism within his community and the prejudice without.’”
Book Report (King's Herald, 01/09/2013)
“The Good Doctor is a compelling tale set in Hamilton, Ontario’s Italian community during World War II.”
Hamilton author could be people's choice for Giller Prize (Alexsis Karpenchuk, CBC News, 30/08/2012)
"A Hamilton writer’s first novel gains nationwide acclaim as a finalist for the Scotiabank Giller Prize Reader’s Choice contest.”
Excerpt
Good Doctor Excerpt
Read the prologue and first chapter of The Good Doctor by Vince Agro.
About the Author
Vince Agro lives in the Westdale neighbourhood of Hamilton with his family. A proud Hamiltonian, he was born and raised in the city’s North End. He taught high school English and served on the Hamilton City Council for many years, some of which were as mayor and deputy mayor. He runs his own life insurance and employee benefit consulting company. His latest book, The Good Doctor, won the 2012 F.G. Bressani Literary Prize for Fiction and was a finalist for the Scotiabank Giller Prize Reader’s Choice contest.
Other Titles by this Author
In Grace's Kitchen: Memories and recipes from an Italian-Canadian childhood (2014)