A Country Doctor (Cyclopedia of Literary Places)
At a glance:
- Author: Sarah Orne Jewett
- First Published: 1884
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Bildungsroman
- Time of Work: Mid-nineteenth century
- Genres: Long fiction, Bildungsroman, Regional fiction, Naturalistic literature
- Subjects: Love or romance, Nineteenth century, Doctors, Schools or school life, New England, Women’s issues, Small-town life, Career women
- Locales: New England, Maine
Places Discussed
Oldfields. Fictional Maine farming community, probably modeled after the environs of Jewett’s birthplace, South Berwick, Maine. Jewett’s father, a physician, often took young Jewett along on patient visits, pointing out for close observation features of the people and landscape. As a child, Nan flourishes on the farm. Local society—with its Puritan heritage—tends to be narrow, formally pious, and conservative. The opening chapters tell several stories of talented people thwarted by the limited life choices available there. Nan, however, is allowed to...
[The entire page is 935 words long]
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