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A review by wolfsonarchitect
A Country Doctor by Sarah Orne Jewett
3.0
This is an important work as a treatise on a woman choosing the medical profession as opposed to accepting the dictum that a woman’s place is in the home. There are strong arguments put in the heroine’s mouth and I appreciate that the author argues for Nan becoming a doctor without denigrating women who choose marriage and homemaking. These feminists arguments are put in strongly Christian terms, which differs from some of the strong women created by George Elliot or Thomas Hardy.
I was surprised to read that the book is set in Maine, as I’d assumed Massachusetts because of the references to the factories in Lowell. I guess Lowell pulled women to work from a larger area than I realized.
The story has a weak plot and not as rich language and metaphors as some of her contemporaries. My biggest disappointment was that the character of Nan was not deeply developed. She was too perfect. Just before this I read Anne of Green Gables, which has much more dialogue that helps develop the character’s depth.
I was surprised to read that the book is set in Maine, as I’d assumed Massachusetts because of the references to the factories in Lowell. I guess Lowell pulled women to work from a larger area than I realized.
The story has a weak plot and not as rich language and metaphors as some of her contemporaries. My biggest disappointment was that the character of Nan was not deeply developed. She was too perfect. Just before this I read Anne of Green Gables, which has much more dialogue that helps develop the character’s depth.