The Strange Case of Dr Simmonds & Dr Glas

July 29th, 2008

The Strange Case of Dr Simmonds & Dr Glas
Dannie Abse
194 p.

Robson Books, 2003.
(First published 2002.)

Back cover blurb:

‘Take the phial from the medicine cabinet, I thought. Hesitating, haunted, I eventually went down to my surgery to pick up my leather emergency bag,

And so Dr Simmonds drove through the night to treat the aging, sick and loathed husband of the young woman whom he loved.

Inspired by the disturbing 1905 Swedish classic, Doctor Glas by Hjalmar Söderberg, a novel which questions the possibility of pure moral murder, Dannie Abse draws on his own medical experience as a doctor to create a strange, luminous story of love, infatuation and deceit in 1950s London. The Strange Case of Dr Simmonds & Dr Glas was longlisted for the 2002 Booker Prize and shortlisted for the Wingate Prize.

This book centres around a Swedish novel, which I read last autumn in school. It was one of the best books I read that autumn. And The Strange Case of Dr Simmonds & Dr Glas has in many ways the same kind of feel as Doctor Glas. The story is incredibly similar, without making it redundant. It is very good. And cleverly told, too.

Of course, in the choice between this novel and Doctor Glas, I would easily choose Doctor Glas, but this is a really good book. And if you’ve read Doctor Glas, do read this. …if you haven’t read Doctor Glas, read this anyway.

Entry Filed under: English, Fiction