ডক্টর থার্ন

by H. Rider Haggard, Toufir Hasan Ur Rakib (Translator)

গল্পটা মানব সভ্যতার ইতিহাসের ভয়াবহ প্রাকৃতিক আতঙ্কের গল্প।
তবে গল্পটা রাজনৈতিক পর্দার আড়ালের অন্ধকার জগতের একটি স্পষ্ট প্রতিচ্ছবিও বটে।
আবার গল্পটাকে মর্মস্পর্শী একটি প্রেমের গল্প বললেও ভুল হবে না।
তবে শেষ পর্যন্ত এটি কেবল ডক্টর থার্নেরই গল্প।

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Historical Fiction, British Literature

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1889

About the author

Sir Henry Rider Haggard, KBE was an English writer of adventure novels set in exotic locations, predominantly Africa, and the creator of the Lost World literary genre. His stories, situated at the lighter end of the scale of Victorian literature, continue to be popular and influential. He was also involved in agricultural reform and improvement in the British Empire.

His breakout novel was King Solomon's Mines (1885), which was to be the first in a series telling of the multitudinous adventures of its protagonist, Allan Quatermain.

Haggard was made a Knight Bachelor in 1912 and a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1919. He stood unsuccessfully for Parliament as a Conservative candidate for the Eastern division of Norfolk in 1895. The locality of Rider, British Columbia, was named in his memory.

Reviews

[শুভাগত দীপ · Rating 3 out of 5]

|| রিভিউ ||

বইঃ ডক্টর থার্ন
মূলঃ হেনরি রাইডার হ্যাগার্ড
রূপান্তরঃ তৌফির হাসান উর রাকিব
প্রকাশকঃ সেবা প্রকাশনী
প্রকাশকালঃ ২০১৮
ঘরানাঃ কনফেশন/ফিকশন
প্রচ্ছদঃ রনবীর আহমেদ বিপ্লব
পৃষ্ঠাঃ ২২৩
মুদ্রিত মূল্যঃ ৮২ টাকা
ধরণঃ পেপারব্যাক

কাহিনি সংক্ষেপঃ এই গল্প ডা. জেমস থার্নের। তাঁর নিজের জবানিতেই বর্ণিত হয়েছে গল্পটা। চিকিৎসাশাস্ত্র নিয়ে পড়াশোনা শেষ করে নিজের প্র‍্যাক্টিস জমানোর জন্য তিনি বেছে নিয়েছিলেন ইংল্যান্ডের ডানচেস্টার শহর। এই শহরেই ছেলেবেলা কেটেছে ডা. থার্নের। স্ত্রী এমা বেকারকে নিয়ে যখন তিনি ডানচেস্টারে নিজের নতুন জীবন শুরু করেছেন, ঠিক তখন থেকেই শুরু হলো বিপত্তি। এই শহরেরই সবচেয়ে প্রভাবশালী চিকিৎসক স্যার জন বেলের চক্ষুশূলে পরিণত হলেন ডা. থার্ন। শত্রুতা সৃষ্টি হলো দু'জনের মধ্যে।

এদিকে থার্ন পরিবারের কোল আলো করে জন্ম নিলো শিশু জেন। কিন্তু নিয়তির নির্মম পরিহাসে ডা. থার্নকে হারাতে হলো অনেক কিছুই। ডানচেস্টারের প্রভাবশালী কোলফোর্ড পরিবার একেবারে উঠেপড়ে লাগলো তাঁর পেছনে। তাঁকে ফাঁসিয়ে দেয়া হলো দায়িত্বে অবহেলার অভিযোগ দিয়ে। দীর্ঘদিন ধরে একটু একটু করে জমানো সম্মান ভূলুণ্ঠিত হওয়ার উপক্রম হলো। ঠিক তখনই শহরের সবচেয়ে ধনী ব্যক্তিত্ব স্টিফেন স্ট্রং ও তাঁর স্ত্রী এসে দাঁড়ালেন ডা. থার্নের পাশে।

স্ট্রং পরিবারের প্রত্যক্ষ সহায়তায় নিজের খারাপ সময়কে এক পর্যায়ে পেছনে ফেলে আসতে সক্ষম হলেন ডা. থার্ন। নাম লেখালেন রাজনীতিতে। বিতর্কিত ও সংখ্যালঘু র‍্যাডিক্যাল পার্টির প্রার্থী হয়ে নির্বাচিত হলেন তিনি। এই পার্টির প্রায় প্রত্যেক সমর্থকই অ্যান্টি ভ্যাকসিনেশনে (যারা গুটি বসন্তের ভ্যাকসিন নেয়াটা ক্ষতিকর বলে ভাবতো। তারা এটাও ভাবতো যে গুটি বসন্ত ঈশ্বরের পরীক্ষা। এটার জন্য ভ্যাকসিন নেয়ার মানে হলো ঈশ্বরের সরাসরি বিরুদ্ধাচরণ করা।) বিশ্বাসী। আর এই র‍্যাডিক্যালদের সাথে যোগ দেয়াটাই একটা সময় তাঁর কাল হলো।

সময় বদলালো ধীরে ধীরে। একটা পর্যায়ে খোদ ডানচেস্টারেই পা রাখলো ভয়ঙ্কর গুটি বসন্ত। দলে দলে আক্রান্ত হতে লাগলো মানুষ। মারাও গেলো অনেকে। জীবনের বেশিরভাগ সময় ভ্যাকসিনেশনের বিপক্ষে কথা বলা ডা. থার্ন এবার সত্যিই পেছনে ফিরে তাকালেন। যার প্রয়োজন হয়তো অনেক আগেই ছিলো। ডা. জেমস থার্নের গল্পটা একই সাথে ক্ষমতার লোভের। আবার এই গল্পটা ভয়াবহ এক অপরাধ ও অপরাধবোধে পরিপূর্ণ স্বীকারোক্তির। এই গল্প কাপুরুষতার। আর সবকিছু ছাপিয়ে এই গল্প প্রেমেরও।

পাঠ প্রতিক্রিয়াঃ বিশ্বখ্যাত বহু ক্লাসিক কাহিনির রচয়িতা হেনরি রাইডার হ্যাগার্ডের বেশিরভাগ কাহিনির পটভূমিই আফ্রিকা। 'ডক্টর থার্ন' বইটা এর সম্পূর্ণ ব্যতিক্রম। এই কাহিনির বেশিরভাগ জুড়েই ছিলো ইংল্যান্ডের ডানচেস্টার শহর। পরিস্থিতির চাপে পড়ে নানা হঠকারী সিদ্ধান্ত নেয়া একজন চিকিৎসকের জীবনকে হ্যাগার্ড সাহেব তুলে ধরেছেন পাঠকের সামনে। ডা. থার্নের নিজের জবানিতে উঠে আসা এই গল্পটাকে নিখাদ স্বীকারোক্তি বললেও অত্যুক্তি করা হবেনা।

হেনরি রাইডার হ্যাগার্ডের আফ্রিকা বিষয়ক নানা অ্যাডভেঞ্চার কাহিনি পড়াতেই আমি বেশি অভ্যস্ত। 'ডক্টর থার্ন' পড়তে গিয়ে সেই কারণেই একেবারে অন্যরকম লেগেছে। সচরাচর যে উত্তেজনাপূর্ণ আবহ তাঁর অন্যান্য বইগুলোতে খেয়াল করা যায়, তার ছিঁটেফোঁটাও এই বইয়ে নেই। প্রবল অপরাধবোধ নিয়ে বেঁচে থাকা একজন মানুষের অনুশোচনা এখানে বেশ ভালোভাবেই খেয়াল করা যায়। সত্যি বলতে, গল্পের কোন নির্দিষ্ট চরিত্রের ওপর রাগ করে কোন লাভ নেই। কিন্তু বইটা পড়ার সময় বারবার ডা. থার্নের ওপর আমার মেজাজ খারাপ হচ্ছিলো।

যাই হোক, হেনরি রাইডার হ্যাগার্ডের সেরা সৃষ্টিগুলোর মধ্যে আমি 'ডক্টর থার্ন'-কে মোটেও স্থান দিতে রাজি না। বইটা আমার কাছে আশানুরুপ ভালোও লাগেনি। তবে তৌফির হাসান উর রাকিবের রূপান্তর বরাবরের মতোই চমৎকার ছিলো। রনবীর আহমেদ বিপ্লবের করা প্রচ্ছদটাও মোটামুটি ভালো লেগেছে।

ব্যক্তিগত রেটিংঃ ২.৫/৫
গুডরিডস রেটিংঃ ৩.৭১/৫

© শুভাগত দীপ

(১৫ জানুয়ারি, ২০১৯, সন্ধ্যা ৬ টা ১৮ মিনিট)

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Haggard at his more didactic and/or cautionary.

This is a short novel -- maybe a novella?, narrated by the eponymous Doctor James Therne. Finding himself having difficulty establishing his medical career in Dunchester, he makes a sort of devil's bargain with a local rich crank to run for Parliament on an anti-vaccine platform (despite knowing full well that vaccination is a safe and effective way to mitigate the spread of smallpox), goes on to have a remarkable and successful career, always riding that anti-vaccine wave, and will it eventually come back to bite him in the butt? Well, remember what I said about Haggard being didactic and/or cautionary? (As HRH himself freely owns in the introduction to the book, which was apparently written in response to some then-current events.)

[Ilya Pauker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Это нужно в обязательном порядке читать антипрививочникам.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard as it may be to believe, there was a time in English history when the populace vigorously refused to be protected against the smallpox scourge that so often ravaged the countryside. Indeed, to this day in the 21st century, there are still many people around the world who view vaccination against disease an unsafe practice, and refuse to partake of its proven benefits. Back in 1796, when English doctor Edward Jenner first demonstrated the usefulness of introducing cowpox into an individual to prevent smallpox, his discovery was viewed as a great advancement. By the early 1800s, vaccination of this type was widespread, despite the possible dangers of infection. But when Britain passed Vaccination Acts from 1840 - 1853 that made these vaccinations compulsory, well, that's when the trouble started. The Anti-Vaccination League was formed in 1853, outraged that the populace was being forced to undergo this dangerous procedure with its concomitant loss of civil liberties. Finally, a compromise of sorts was reached in 1898, when the laws were amended to allow conscientiously objecting parents to exempt their children from the vaccination laws. This new ruling apparently dismayed author H. Rider Haggard, and led to the writing of his 23rd novel, "Doctor Therne," that same year.

This novel, very much a piece of pro-vaccination propaganda and in fact dedicated to the Jenner Society, is nevertheless a very enjoyable story that modern-day readers should find highly affecting. It tells the story of "James Therne," a promising young doctor who suffers some early tragedies. He is unjustly accused in a malpractice case, loses all his patients even though he is acquitted, and later suffers the loss of his young wife. Though a staunch believer in vaccination, he runs for Parliament on an anti-vaccination platform, selling out his beliefs and morals for political gain and filthy lucre. Need I mention that this only leads to tragedy for Therne, his daughter and the general community, when a smallpox outbreak strikes his (fictional) town of Dunchester many years later? Despite his greater scientific knowledge, Therne has never inoculated his young daughter, for political reasons, and the confrontation between the two of them years later, as the deadly sickness sweeps through the town, is one of the most dramatic scenes in any of the 45 Haggard books that I've read so far.

But this is not merely a novel of propaganda and dramatic incident. Haggard, great adventure storyteller that he was, seemed incapable of writing a book without some kind of action set piece to pull the reader in at the beginning of the tale, and "Doctor Therne" is no exception. Thus, at the story's beginning, we learn of how the good/bad doctor first met his wife in the wilds of Mexico, and of the trouble the two got into with a band of sleazy banditos. Heaven forbid that ol' H. Rider produce a book without one action sequence! But for the most part, Haggard had some strong points that he wished to make with this novel; namely, that vaccination is a blessing to mankind, and that all those who sell their morals and beliefs for money and personal gain are doomed to reap a bitter harvest. Though one of the more obscure titles in Haggard's bibliography, and one of the shortest (the vintage edition that I just read had this 209-page novel teamed with another Haggard novel, the wonderful "Mr. Meeson's Will"), it is a work that deserves a wider audience today, as it holds up marvelously well indeed.

[Fantasy Literature]

A terrific medical novel by a great adventure fantasist.

http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...

[Hussain M Farabi · Rating 3 out of 5]

হেনরির বই হিসেবে প্রত্যাশা আরেকটু বেশিই ছিলো। থিমটা সুন্দর কিন্তু কেনো যেনো গল্প বলাটা উনার শী কিংবা কিং সলোমন'স মাইনের মতো ততোটা টানেনি।

[Shaid Zaman · Rating 3 out of 5]

হেনরি রাইডার হ্যাগার্ডের বই মানেই মহাকাব্যিক এডভেঞ্চার। কিন্তু এই বইটি একেবারে সেই গোত্রের না। উপন্যাস হিসেবে ধরলে দারুন, কিন্তু হেনরি রাইডার হ্যাগার্ডের উপন্যাস হিসেবে ধরলে বিরিয়ানির পরের বেলায় ভাত আর ডিম ভাজি।

বইটির সময় কাল গুটি বসন্তের হিংস্র ছোবলে যখন ইউরোপ ঘোর অমনিশায়। সরকার যখন চাইছে বাধ্যতামূলক ভাবে সকল নাগরিক কে ভ্যাক্সিনেশন করাতে তখন একদল মানুষ এন্টিভ্যাক্সিনেশন এর পক্ষে। নিয়তির প্যাচে পরে ডক্টর থার্ন এন্টিভ্যাক্সিনেশন এর পক্ষে যেতে বাধ্য হন। ডক্টর থার্ন কে সামনে এনে ইংল্যান্ডের ডানচেস্টার শহরের এন্টিভ্যাক্সিনেশন এর পক্ষের লোকেরা শুরু করলো রাজনীতি। জিতে গেলো নির্বাচন। ফলাফল ইংল্যান্ডের ডানচেস্টার শহরের বেশিরভাগ মানুষ নিলো না ভ্যাকসিন। আর এই র‍্যাডিক্যালদের সাথে যোগ দেয়াটাই একটা সময় তাঁর কাল ডক্টর থার্ন এর জন্য।

এরপর এলো গুটি বসন্ত। হিংস্র ছোবলে মরতে থাকলো মানুষ। বাদ গেলো না ডক্টর থার্ন এর নিজের মেয়েও।

বইটা প্যান্ডেমিক পরবর্তী সময়ে পড়ায় গা শিরশিরানি অনুভূতিটা হচ্ছিলো। তবে হেনরি রাইডার হ্যাগার্ডের লেখা হিসেবে মেনে নিতে কষ্ট হয়েছে খুব। অন্য কোন লেখকের বই হলে নিঃসন্দেহে চার তারা দিয়ে দিতাম।

[Ahsan Kabir · Rating 3 out of 5]

বলার মত আর কিছুই নেই আমার।
...
ডঃ থার্ন

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard as it may be to believe, there was a time in English history when the populace vigorously refused to be protected against the smallpox scourge that so often ravaged the countryside. Indeed, to this day in the 21st century, there are still many people around the world who view vaccination against disease an unsafe practice, and refuse to partake of its proven benefits. Back in 1796, when English doctor Edward Jenner first demonstrated the usefulness of introducing cowpox into an individual to prevent smallpox, his discovery was viewed as a great advancement. By the early 1800s, vaccination of this type was widespread, despite the possible dangers of infection. But when Britain passed Vaccination Acts from 1840-1853 that made these vaccinations compulsory, well, that's when the trouble started. The Anti-Vaccination League was formed in 1853, outraged that the populace was being forced to undergo this dangerous procedure with its concomitant loss of civil liberties. Finally, a compromise of sorts was reached in 1898, when the laws were amended to allow conscientiously objecting parents to exempt their children from the vaccination laws. This new ruling apparently dismayed author H. Rider Haggard, and led to the writing of his 23rd novel, "Doctor Therne," that same year.

This novel, very much a piece of pro-vaccination propaganda and in fact dedicated to the Jenner Society, is nevertheless a very enjoyable story that modern-day readers should find highly affecting. It tells the story of "James Therne," a promising young doctor who suffers some early tragedies. He is unjustly accused in a malpractice case, loses all his patients even though he is acquitted, and later suffers the loss of his young wife. Though a staunch believer in vaccination, he runs for Parliament on an anti-vaccination platform, selling out his beliefs and morals for political gain and filthy lucre. Need I mention that this only leads to tragedy for Therne, his daughter and the general community, when a smallpox outbreak strikes his (fictional) town of Dunchester many years later? Despite his greater scientific knowledge, Therne has never inoculated his young daughter, for political reasons, and the confrontation between the two of them years later, as the deadly sickness sweeps through the town, is one of the most dramatic scenes in any of the 25 Haggard books that I've read so far. But this is not merely a novel of propaganda and dramatic incident. Haggard, great adventure storyteller that he was, seemed incapable of writing a book without some kind of action set piece to pull the reader in at the beginning of the tale, and "Doctor Therne" is no exception. Thus, at the story's beginning, we learn of how the good/bad doctor first met his wife in the wilds of Mexico, and of the trouble the two got into with a band of sleazy banditos. Heaven forbid that ol' Rider produce a book without one action sequence! But for the most part, Haggard had some strong points that he wished to make with this novel; namely, that vaccination is a blessing to mankind, and that all those who sell their morals and beliefs for money and personal gain are doomed to reap a bitter harvest. Though one of the more obscure titles in Haggard's bibliography, and one of the shortest (the vintage edition that I just read had this 209-page novel teamed with another Haggard novel, the wonderful "Mr. Meeson's Will"), it is a work that deserves a wider audience today, as it holds up marvelously well indeed.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard as it may be to believe, there was a time in English history when the populace vigorously refused to be protected against the smallpox scourge that so often ravaged the countryside. Indeed, to this day in the 21st century, there are still many people around the world who view vaccination against disease an unsafe practice, and refuse to partake of its proven benefits. Back in 1796, when English doctor Edward Jenner first demonstrated the usefulness of introducing cowpox into an individual to prevent smallpox, his discovery was viewed as a great advancement. By the early 1800s, vaccination of this type was widespread, despite the possible dangers of infection. But when Britain passed Vaccination Acts from 1840-1853 that made these vaccinations compulsory, well, that's when the trouble started. The Anti-Vaccination League was formed in 1853, outraged that the populace was being forced to undergo this dangerous procedure with its concomitant loss of civil liberties. Finally, a compromise of sorts was reached in 1898, when the laws were amended to allow conscientiously objecting parents to exempt their children from the vaccination laws. This new ruling apparently dismayed author H. Rider Haggard, and led to the writing of his 23rd novel, "Doctor Therne," that same year.

This novel, very much a piece of pro-vaccination propaganda and in fact dedicated to the Jenner Society, is nevertheless a very enjoyable story that modern-day readers should find highly affecting. It tells the story of "James Therne," a promising young doctor who suffers some early tragedies. He is unjustly accused in a malpractice case, loses all his patients even though he is acquitted, and later suffers the loss of his young wife. Though a staunch believer in vaccination, he runs for Parliament on an anti-vaccination platform, selling out his beliefs and morals for political gain and filthy lucre. Need I mention that this only leads to tragedy for Therne, his daughter and the general community, when a smallpox outbreak strikes his (fictional) town of Dunchester many years later? Despite his greater scientific knowledge, Therne has never inoculated his young daughter, for political reasons, and the confrontation between the two of them years later, as the deadly sickness sweeps through the town, is one of the most dramatic scenes in any of the 25 Haggard books that I've read so far. But this is not merely a novel of propaganda and dramatic incident. Haggard, great adventure storyteller that he was, seemed incapable of writing a book without some kind of action set piece to pull the reader in at the beginning of the tale, and "Doctor Therne" is no exception. Thus, at the story's beginning, we learn of how the good/bad doctor first met his wife in the wilds of Mexico, and of the trouble the two got into with a band of sleazy banditos. Heaven forbid that ol' Rider produce a book without one action sequence! But for the most part, Haggard had some strong points that he wished to make with this novel; namely, that vaccination is a blessing to mankind, and that all those who sell their morals and beliefs for money and personal gain are doomed to reap a bitter harvest. Though one of the more obscure titles in Haggard's bibliography, and one of the shortest (the vintage edition that I just read had this 209-page novel teamed with another Haggard novel, the wonderful "Mr. Meeson's Will"), it is a work that deserves a wider audience today, as it holds up marvelously well indeed.

[Perry Whitford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to the worldwide use of the vaccination discovered by Thomas Jenner at the end of the 18th century, the disease smallpox was declared eradicated from the planet in 1980. We can all be eternally grateful for that.

Despite the obvious success of those first treatments, however, even in Jenner's own country of England a strong anti-vaccination movement still existed during the 19th century, where the law allowed parents to opt out of having their children vaccinated.

In this short but effective cautionary tale, Haggard comes up with a 'what if?' scenario where the anti-vaccinationists, deriding the supporters of inoculation as 'Calf-worshippers", convinces the nation that they are in the right, with disastrous consequences.

Doctor Therne is the confirmed vaccinationist who flips his principles for the good of his career when he becomes involved in the politics of the situation, gaining much for a time and then losing everything, even his own daughter, when a fresh epidemic breaks.

A better writer than Haggard would have made a lot more of the selfish, conflicted figure of Doctor Therne and the personal tragedy of his story, but for all his fame the creator of Alan Quatermain is little more than one notch above a hack.

It's still a good story though. Smallpox may be an anachronism today but the theme of a man of learning selling himself out for money will never grow old.

[Trounin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Как знать, правду ли рассказал читателю Райдер Хаггард словами доктора Терна. Главным героем оказался отрицательный персонаж, который обязательно пробудит аналогичные отрицательные к нему чувства, и к самом произведению. Однако, выбранная Хаггардом тема для произведения действительно является наиважнейшей для всего человечества. За год до «Доктора Терна» Герберт Уэллс написал «Войну миров», показав роль мельчайший организмов с полезной для землян стороны. Но это было фантастическое произведение, где о планете позаботились другие её обитатели. Вот с ними и нужно находить общий язык, иначе и человеку не найдётся места на Земле, если он не проявит благоразумие.

(c) Trounin

[Brett Keegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, interesting read with timely implications.

I found the story engaging enough, but mostly it was fascinating to read an early window into the vax and anti-vax debate and the limits of democracy. It is a short read, but telling and resonant.

[Cam Netland · Rating 5 out of 5]

The wikipedia entry is pitiable for such a profound and relevant work of corruption. What an novel. I certainly hated Dr. Therne by the end and he got what he deserved, but I also sympathized with him. He was driven to become the person he was by the barriers to entry in his profession, the death of his wife at the hands of an antagonistic elder doctor, and the “good” intentions of wealthy anti-vaccinators. In turn, he promulgated lies he knew to be lies and many innocent (albeit not very bright) people died because of his self-advancement through a position on anti-vaccination. Again, I sympathize. When destitute, we can make choices we never thought possible of ourselves. When a man such as Dr. Therne is interrupted in his suicide attempt by the one person who professes to care for him, even if that person is a rich anti vaccine nut, you can’t blame him for acting in credit to his rescuer. In our good health, we should not proclaim ourselves immune to the temptations that may appear in our times of destitution. Even if they directly oppose our moral code.

But a book like Dr. Therne is an excellent warning about transgressing yourself. That these temptations will undo you, eventually. Despite many a good or bad man escaping the clutches of karma, there are moments when the eye of Fortune squints with a moral castigation and a man reaps what he sows. I believe this squint is caused most consequently when one is untrue to oneself; such as Dr. Therne was, for far too long and far too late to undo the crimes he caused unto himself.

When one reaches the climactic ending, though they are warned from the beginning by the narrator’s hints of tragedy to come, it is undoubtably shocking to see how terribly the fruits of self transgression bear upon our eponymous protagonist. As I said before, Dr. Therne deserved everything (sans the death of his daughter) for what he preached but good god you just wish he could have stopped it earlier.

Along with the strength of its moral arguments, the book is a page turner and I finished it in one sitting. From the robbery in Mexico, the corruption in the medical field, to his career as a politician I was thoroughly captivated for every page. This is the first Haggard novel I have read and it certainly won’t be the last.

As foolhardy as the modern anti-vaccination groups are, I find their antecedents far more appalling. To live in a world with smallpox and leave things up to “God’s hand” when clear alternatives are available (and they use just as many materialistic items as the average vaccine enthusiast to excuse themselves) is just about the most ridiculous concept I have ever heard. Ah well, the book is prescient. For the prevalent existence of these groups in our own age make Dr. Therne just as relevant to read as when it came out 120 years ago.

In short, this book was enjoyable to read from start to finish, a profound example of why you should remain true to your principles, AND A REMINDER TO GET (hygienically) VACCINATED.

One quote I rather enjoyed and paraphrase here for you:

“Rats can’t abandon a ship faster than fair weather friends will a friend in need.”

[Oreon · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://whatsread.pp.ua/work/2988
Книга про лікаря, який заради матеріальних вигод пішов проти своїх переконань і науки, потрапив до парламенту, мав певний вплив на «маси», в результаті чого загинуло багато людей, в тому числі і його єдина дочка. А ось він вижив, вижив через те, що потай зробив те, від чого відмовляв інших і на чому робив політичну кар'єру. І ще є одна риса у нашого доктора — будучи молодим, він багато працював і обурювався, коли його тиснули і зневажали сильні, але ставши вже сам сильним, він знехтував для своєї дочки молодого лікаря — практично копію себе в молодості...

[MD Moshiur · Rating 5 out of 5]

অসাধারণ একটা গল্প

[মশিউর রহমান · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just good enough to pass the time. Translation was ok, not good but just ok.

[Mir Sharifuzzaman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic masterpiece!

[Elena Problem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Когда начала читать эту повесть, не знала, что она про эпидемию оспы и обязательную вакцинацию.

[Amina Mirsakiyeva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Какая глубокая короткая новелла. Прямо в сердце! И в мозг! Но к сожалению, противники вакцин не воспримут.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novella about Dr. James Therne, third generation doctor in the British town of Dunchester. Recounts his rise as a doctor and fall as a result of the false testimony of the doctor Therne has replaced as the town’s leading doctor. Then his rise again with the help of a weathly supporter who promises financial support for his vocal support against compulsory vaccinations in late 19th Century Britain. This Therne does against his better judgment and which proves to be his undoing again.

Story is set with the British anti small pox vaccination movement in the background with Therne playing a prominent role. Also mixed in is personal greed and the willingness to go against your morals and better judgment and the dire consequences that result because of this personal weakness.

[Koca Loca · Rating 4 out of 5]

It wasn't something I had (so far) expected from Haggard: A fatalistic Karma type novel. Well written and put together, though. Just sad.

[Wade Burgess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Haggard is a great storyteller. Interesting to read this during the Covid-19 era.