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The District Doctor
ONE day, in autumn, on my way home from the distant fields, I caught cold, and was taken ill. Fortunately, the fever overtook me in the county-town, in the hotel. I sent for the doctor. Half an hour later, the district physician made his appearance, a man of short stature, thin and black-haired. He prescribed for me the customary sudorific, ordered the application of mustard-plasters, very deftly tucked my five-ruble bank-note under his cuff,—but emitted a dry cough and glanced aside as he did so,—and was on the very verge of going off about his own affairs, but somehow got to talking and remained. The fever oppressed me; I foresaw a sleepless night, and was glad to chat with the kindly man. Tea was served. My doctor began to talk. He was far from a stupid young fellow, and expressed himself vigorously and quite entertainingly. Strange things happen in the world: you may live a long time, and on friendly terms, with one man, and never once speak frankly from your soul with him; with another you hardly manage to make acquaintance—and behold: either you have blurted out to him your most secret thoughts, as though you were at confession, or he has blurted out his to you. I know not how I won the confidence of my new friend,—only, without rhyme or reason, as the saying is, he “took” and told me about a rather remarkable occurrence; and now I am going to impart his narrative to the indulgent reader. I shall endeavour to express myself in the physician’s words.
13 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2008
About the author
Ivan Turgenev
1,565 books2,519 followersIvan Sergeyevich Turgenev (Cyrillic: Иван Сергеевич Тургенев) was a novelist, poet, and dramatist, and now ranks as one of the towering figures of Russian literature. His major works include the short-story collection A Sportsman’s Sketches (1852) and the novels Rudin (1856), Home of the Gentry (1859), On the Eve (1860), and Fathers and Sons (1862).
These works offer realistic, affectionate portrayals of the Russian peasantry and penetrating studies of the Russian intelligentsia who were attempting to move the country into a new age. His masterpiece, Fathers and Sons, is considered one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century.
Turgenev was a contemporary with Fyodor Dostoevsky and Leo Tolstoy. While these wrote about church and religion, Turgenev was more concerned with the movement toward social reform in Russia.
These works offer realistic, affectionate portrayals of the Russian peasantry and penetrating studies of the Russian intelligentsia who were attempting to move the country into a new age. His masterpiece, Fathers and Sons, is considered one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century.
Turgenev was a contemporary with Fyodor Dostoevsky and Leo Tolstoy. While these wrote about church and religion, Turgenev was more concerned with the movement toward social reform in Russia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
July 1, 2022
The more you think about this story, the more conjectural conclusions you come to in regards to the meanings and motives in this story. Was the doctor really putting duty before everything? Where does one draw the line morally and ethically in terms of medical care? Or were his motives of a more superficial interest? A story that I didn't fully comprehend at first, but upon consideration the multidimensional aspects provide a broader perspective to ponder over than I had first surmised.
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Best_Russian_Short_Stories/The_District_Doctor
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Best_Russian_Short_Stories/The_District_Doctor
July 1, 2022
2.5*
A sad tale of a last/first chance of love. Boundarys and professionalism are questioned as i felt it quite unprofessional of a doctor to stray from the matter at hand. It is still his work here we are witnessing.
The nature of the heart in a delicate matter and this is what is suggested. The woman herself may have been a person of interest to him in another setting or maybe not. There is a lot to question here
A sad tale of a last/first chance of love. Boundarys and professionalism are questioned as i felt it quite unprofessional of a doctor to stray from the matter at hand. It is still his work here we are witnessing.
The nature of the heart in a delicate matter and this is what is suggested. The woman herself may have been a person of interest to him in another setting or maybe not. There is a lot to question here
June 8, 2022
Another great short piece by Turgenev. The characters have such humanity and life, fantastic.
February 17, 2021
Why do we always seem to associate love with deep sadness? I’m working my way through short stories that have been selected by the BBC for Valentines Day and they’re all a bit tragic and sad. This was quite a good one, I had never come across before. I enjoyed the narration style but need to go and find something to cheer myself up with now
July 11, 2013
In this sad, short story Turgenev displays his mastery over human emotion by making us care more about these characters in 10 pages than shitty pop authors like Stepanie Myers could do in 1000. This is a very good story and I highly recommend it, reading it won't take long either.
November 16, 2016
A doctor who fell in love with his dying patient. When her patient's condition is getting worsen from day to day and starts losing hope - The doctor felt that he had to lie to give hope to his lover. This is where he got trapped in between carrying his duty as a doctor to prescribe the patient's real condition or to hide it away to give her the hope to survive.
I like the way how Turgenev wrote his stories. The emotion is immensely could be felt though that it was just a read in one sitting.
I like the way how Turgenev wrote his stories. The emotion is immensely could be felt though that it was just a read in one sitting.
December 5, 2017
Ummm...kinda creepy. :/ I do not 'get' this type of stories at all. The stories that are entirely made up of narratives and hardly have any point to them. This doctor just narrates a past experience to a stranger as they sit down to play a game. Probably to get the guilt off his chest. But I don't understand. There was really nothing to it, except random rambling. So yeah, not my thing.
July 9, 2021
Another piece of literature adding self-pressure to learn Russian next. I feel much is lost in translation with this one.
August 13, 2019
“Sometimes little things happen which seem nothing at all, but they hurt.”
April 13, 2018
Two stories by Turgenev.
April 18, 2014
A doctor relates a past experience regarding a sick young woman to his patient...
A rather beautiful short tale...
A rather beautiful short tale...
July 24, 2015
Just googled "best Russian short stories" and found it in wiki:
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Best_Ru...
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Best_Ru...
January 26, 2016
Love while you live.
July 8, 2018
I read an ebook version of this book twice at ebooks.adelaide.edu.au
It is a nice little time-filler and yet left a strong impression on me.
It is a very short book.
It is a nice little time-filler and yet left a strong impression on me.
It is a very short book.
February 25, 2024
Very thought provoking short story. Did the doctor love Aleksandra, or was he blinded the the prospect of being with someone beautiful and not being tied down. Morally , should he have discarded his duties as a doctor for one patient , knowing how futile is attempts in aiding her would be?
January 26, 2019
ضعف اخلاقی یک دکتر و رابطه اش با دختری زیبا که برای درمانش رفته است. پزشکی چیز عجیبیست. رابطه ی خدا گونه پزشک با بیمارانش. حساسیت مواردی که به بیماران میگوید. او به بیمار میگوید که احتمالا جانش در خطر است. و دختر تمام امیدش را از دست میدهد و مرگ و پزشکی که ادامه میدهد.
March 31, 2012
Dr. falls in love with dying patient, tells family she is fine when she really isn't, the worst review of a great short story right now.
June 3, 2013
Heart-wrenching short story about a doctor who falls in love with a patient. Exciting!
May 25, 2020
A strange love story that is quite bittersweet. You read through the doctors perspective and see how a hopeful recovery can turn into a hopeless desire.
November 2, 2020
I like this profound yet straightforward story, deep down; we all hungry for love, and I can understand this girl's desire who wanted a glimpse of love before dying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2022
A late night medical call makes a doctor spill all his private thoughts and life experiences to a
random patient on a cold stormy night in a district seedy boarding house.
random patient on a cold stormy night in a district seedy boarding house.
December 21, 2023
İvan Turgenyev'in "Kasaba Hekimi" adlı eseri, insan doğasının karmaşıklığını ve toplumun etkilerini inceler. Roman, genellikle kırsal hayatın sıkıntılarına, aşkın gücüne ve gelenek ile modernite arasındaki çatışmalara odaklanır. Hikaye, bir kasaba hekiminin kasabada yaşadığı deneyimleri (bazı şeyler yıllar geçse de değişmiyormuş) anlatırken, onun içsel mücadeleleri ve çevresindeki insanların yaşamlar�� arasındaki çatışmaları vurgular. Kitap, sadece bireyin içsel çatışmalarını değil, aynı zamanda toplumun normları ve beklentileriyle başa çıkma zorunluluğunu da anlatır. Turgenyev'in ustalıklı anlatımıyla, insan psikolojisinin derinliklerine inerek, okuyucuyu düşündürmeyi ve duygusal bir bağ kurmayı başarıyor. "Kasaba Hekimi", sadece bir dönemin değil, insan doğasının evrensel bir portresini çizerken, insani duyguların ve çatışmaların zenginliğini de keşfeder.
September 4, 2023
......Into whatever houses I enter, I will go into them for the benefit of the sick, and will abstain from every voluntary act of mischief and corruption; and, further from the seduction of females or males, of freemen and slaves......
The Hippocratic Oath ( 400 BC).
Ivan Turgenev has used an incident which is considered professional misconduct in the field of medicine. As humans are prone to err and as they are beings with emotions, such things can happen and that's why it is openly condemned in the medical field.
The lines Turgenev used to show the doctor's self-criticism of his competency felt authentic. I have felt the same way when presented with a medical matter in which I am not confident.
The Hippocratic Oath ( 400 BC).
Ivan Turgenev has used an incident which is considered professional misconduct in the field of medicine. As humans are prone to err and as they are beings with emotions, such things can happen and that's why it is openly condemned in the medical field.
The lines Turgenev used to show the doctor's self-criticism of his competency felt authentic. I have felt the same way when presented with a medical matter in which I am not confident.
September 17, 2018
"Strange things happen in the world: you may live a long time, and on friendly terms, with one man, and never once speak frankly from your soul with him; with another you hardly manage to make acquaintance and behold: either you have blurted out to him your most secret thoughts, as though you were at confession, or he has blurted out his to you."
February 5, 2024
A relatable story where one is caught in between professional and personal dillemma. Where your ego doesn’t allow you to concede that you do not know enough, but try to keep the patient’s family deluded, of falling in love with your patient, of self-doubt. Classical literature naturally is far more insightful than any book of history.
August 31, 2023
The girls desire for one love before her death and the doctors noble lying which ultimately fell apart struck a chord with me something about being human and the insatiable desire for peace and wellness. Great piece of literature by Mr. Turgenev
March 5, 2024
Christian Petzold’un Barbara filmine de ilham olan bu öyküyü okumamıştım. Petzold’un filmde cinsiyet rollerini değiştirmiş olması hoşuma gitti. Orijinal öykü bugünden bakınca epey banal ve sorunlu zira.
July 7, 2019
Good story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews