Dr. Breen's Practice

by William Dean Howells

"Dr. Breen's Practice" by William Dean Howells is a novel published in 1881. Dr. Grace Breen, a female physician in an era skeptical of women doctors, faces professional doubts when her sole patient loses faith in her abilities. After consulting a male colleague who proposes marriage while dismissing women's professional rights, Grace must navigate competing suitors and conflicting desires. The novel explores whether a woman in the late 19th century can balance a medical career with marriage and personal fulfillment—or if she must choose between them.