The Cobweb

by William Gibson

A mighty novel of modern medicine, of its passion and intriques, and a doctor who fought to treat his patients as human beings.

Genres: Fiction

369 pages

First published January 1, 1954

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

William Gibson was a Tony Award-winning American playwright and novelist. He graduated from the City College of New York in 1938.

Gibson's most famous play is The Miracle Worker (1959), the story of Helen Keller's childhood education, which won him the Tony Award for Best Play after he adapted it from his original 1957 telefilm script. He adapted the work again for the 1962 film version, receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay; the same actresses who previously had won Tony Awards for their performances in the stage version, Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke, received Academy Awards for the film version as well.

Reviews

[Roberto Rho · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tutto un casino per delle tende.
Amori,tradimento,suicidi,gelosie...
Il movente é troppo stupido per solo delle tende.
O forse risente che questo libro é stato scritto agli inizi degli anni 50.
E ci hanno pure fatto un film...

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definately not the william gibson I was expecting.

[Lana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought of what to write for this- a long essay of praise or a short and sweet comment imploring you to read. I’ve decided on the following:
You will find yourself within this book.
Now, of course people resonate with characters in almost every story, but The Cobweb serves as a mirror which reflects not only yourself but what you have been and what you will be. I could write a book myself on the writing, symbolism, characters, etc. The writing and story itself is not only contemporary but relevant to the lives of every living person regardless of what stage in life they find themselves in while reading. People need people, and you need to read this book.

[Deirdre · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, which was also made into a movie. I even liked the movie, starring Richard Widmark, Lauren Bacall, Gloria Grahame, Lillian Gish and others. Must have been fun working with Oscar Levant who also played a part. When thinking back, this story line seems to have some foundation of "One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest", only this one entails the head of the hospital (Widmark) thinks that getting patients to make curtains for their mental hospital could be a unique form of therapy. But then, his wife and the staff get involved and the number of and style of curtains escalate.

[Susan Molloy · Rating 3 out of 5]

📙This book was published in 1954.
🖋️ Book review: I need to read the book..
🟢The e-book version can be found at Project Gutenberg.

🎥 1955 movie version with Richard Widmark, Charles Boyer, Virginia Grahame, Lauren Bacall, Fay Wray, Lillian Gish, Virginia Christine.
🖊 Movie review: The doctors and their staff is as nuts as the patients. I did not care much for this story.

📙+🎥 = 🖊 Comparing short story to movie: To be written when I find the book.
📽 ●▬● 📙 ●▬● 📽