Novel 062: Anne Elliot, Edith Romney, M.D.

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A female doctor attempts to establish a practice in a provincial town.

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Anne Elliot (1856-1941) wrote 13 novels, of which this was the first, between 1883 and 1903.  Like her protagonist here, she was a doctor’s daughter; the novel’s representation of the plight of a Victorian woman seeking a professional career, though somewhat undermined by its dénouement, is vivid and touching.

“A fresh and clever story. . . .  Several of the subordinate characters, though little more than sketches, are vividly drawn, and the whole tone of life in a prosperous, but highly Philistine, provincial town is cleverly caught.” Academy, October 20, 1883

“The writer of this novel is manifestly very much in earnest.  There is an unmistakeable reality, a ring of genuine passion, in her complaints of the folly and caprice which deny to her heroine her legitimate career.”  Spectator, November 10, 1883

Download this week’s novel:

v.1 https://archive.org/details/dredithromneyan02elligoog/page/n11

v.2 https://archive.org/details/dredithromneyan00elligoog/page/n4

v.3 https://archive.org/details/dredithromneyan01elligoog/page/n8