Most readers know Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) as the creator of intelligent detective Sherlock Holmes and his faithful and naive assistant Dr. Watson , characters, by the way, as happened with respect to Tenorio Zorrilla, ended up being hated by his author did his best to keep them away from the taste of readers, not fully achieve, "making appear in stories and stressful stories weak " 1.
What is less known, or at least I did not know, the Scottish author's biography is that before becoming a "prolific writer" she studied medicine, practicing the medical profession for fifteen years in hospitals , whaling ships and private practices. This explains the cause and reason of this series of stories that today commented: "The red light" (in England, the red lamp was lit indicates that a GP consultation was going on), subtitled "Realities and fantasies of life a doctor " 2 published originally in 1894. The author explains in the preface to this book that his intention is to reflect the more unpleasant side of the medical profession as "can not write to the light of medical practice," knowing that "a narrative could lead to reader beyond the usual way of thinking, that requires him to face the gravity of things, plays the same role as alternative remedies or tonics dela field medicine: are a bitter taste, but in the end result stimulants. "
Despite these caveats the author on the unrewarding nature of their stories, the reader of today can not find them any distress or bitterness, but a whole different story, a tender and even endearing, like the one titled "Two Lovers" fine stories like "Question of diplomacy, some almost detective-like" Lady Sannox case "or" Lot No. 249, "this with mummy included, and finally, my favorite, "Doctors of Hoyland" which chronicles the reactions of a male doctor, practicing only in a small English town before the arrival of a rival doctor who happens to be .. a woman.
All these stories, excellently written (with impeccable translation of Gregory Quarry) are part of novelistic production of better Doyle and therefore deserve to be appreciated in what they are worth so I hasten to recommend, not only for the practitioners of the medical profession, but for all lovers of good literature. In particular, given its brevity, it seems an appropriate reading for this evening of winter ahead (if possible, to create the necessary atmosphere, good reader installed in a comfortable chair, with the fire lit and a glass of cognac the hand) or to be discussed at these, essential and, praiseworthy book clubs, modern version of the literary circles, both are doing for the extension and improvement of the quality of reading in Spain.
What is less known, or at least I did not know, the Scottish author's biography is that before becoming a "prolific writer" she studied medicine, practicing the medical profession for fifteen years in hospitals , whaling ships and private practices. This explains the cause and reason of this series of stories that today commented: "The red light" (in England, the red lamp was lit indicates that a GP consultation was going on), subtitled "Realities and fantasies of life a doctor " 2 published originally in 1894. The author explains in the preface to this book that his intention is to reflect the more unpleasant side of the medical profession as "can not write to the light of medical practice," knowing that "a narrative could lead to reader beyond the usual way of thinking, that requires him to face the gravity of things, plays the same role as alternative remedies or tonics dela field medicine: are a bitter taste, but in the end result stimulants. "
Despite these caveats the author on the unrewarding nature of their stories, the reader of today can not find them any distress or bitterness, but a whole different story, a tender and even endearing, like the one titled "Two Lovers" fine stories like "Question of diplomacy, some almost detective-like" Lady Sannox case "or" Lot No. 249, "this with mummy included, and finally, my favorite, "Doctors of Hoyland" which chronicles the reactions of a male doctor, practicing only in a small English town before the arrival of a rival doctor who happens to be .. a woman.
All these stories, excellently written (with impeccable translation of Gregory Quarry) are part of novelistic production of better Doyle and therefore deserve to be appreciated in what they are worth so I hasten to recommend, not only for the practitioners of the medical profession, but for all lovers of good literature. In particular, given its brevity, it seems an appropriate reading for this evening of winter ahead (if possible, to create the necessary atmosphere, good reader installed in a comfortable chair, with the fire lit and a glass of cognac the hand) or to be discussed at these, essential and, praiseworthy book clubs, modern version of the literary circles, both are doing for the extension and improvement of the quality of reading in Spain.
© Manuel Martínez Bargueño
November, 2009
November, 2009
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NOTES
1. Quoting corresponds George Sampson in his History of English Literature. University of Cambridge. Pegasus Publishing. Volume II, p., 289.
2. Arthur Conan Doyle. The red lamp. Realities and fantasies of the life of a doctor. . Translation Gregorio Cantera. Alba Editorial, first edition 2007.
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