The Doctor's Wife: A Novel

by M. E. (Mary Elizabeth) Braddon

"The Doctor's Wife: A Novel" by M. E. Braddon is a work of fiction written in the mid-19th century. The story introduces us to George Gilbert, a young medical student from a small town, who is planning a holiday in London. As he embarks on this journey, the narrative hints at themes of duty, family, and the contrasting aspirations of rural life versus the bustling city, particularly through characters like Sigismund Smith, his school friend turned sensation author, and Isabel Sleaford, the daughter of a barrister. The opening of the novel sets the stage with George Gilbert's background, depicting his sheltered upbringing in Graybridge-on-the-Wayverne and his caring but determined father. George's journey to London is filled with anticipation, arriving in the city alongside the Sleaford sisters. Upon meeting Sigismund Smith, we discover his dual life as a struggling author and the romantic idealism of Isabel, who dreams of a life filled with poetic adventure. Intriguingly, the sudden departure of the Sleafords creates an air of mystery that foreshadows dramatic changes, ensuring that George's holiday is anything but ordinary as his life begins to intertwine with theirs.