• Source: Doctor Glas

Doctor Glas is a 1905 epistolary novel by Hjalmar Söderberg which tells the story of a physician in 19th-century Sweden who deals with moral and love issues.




Synopsis


The novel is about Dr. Tyko Gabriel Glas who is a respected physician in Stockholm. The story is told in the form of a diary and follows Doctor Glas as he struggles with depression. The antagonist is Reverend Gregorius, a morally corrupt clergyman. Gregorius' beautiful young wife confides in Dr. Glas that her sex life is making her miserable and asks for his help. Glas falls in love with her and agrees to help even though she already has another lover. He attempts to intervene, but the Reverend refuses to give up his "marital rights" – she must have sex with him whether she likes it or not. So, in order to make his love happy, he begins to plot her husband's murder. The novel also deals with issues such as abortion, women's rights, suicide, euthanasia, and eugenics. Not surprisingly, the book triggered a violent campaign against its author who was subsequently vilified in Swedish literary circles.




English translations


In 1963, the first English edition of this novel was published. It featured an introduction by author William Sansom.
In 2002, the latest edition was published by Anchor Books with an introduction by Canadian author Margaret Atwood.
A new translation by Rochelle Wright was published by Counterpoint in 2015.




Prequel


In 2004, Swedish author Bengt Ohlsson wrote a book named Gregorius using Söderberg's character Gregorius and expanded upon his background, explaining why he has become so morally corrupt when readers meet him in Doctor Glas.




Film adaptations


1942: a black-and-white Swedish adaptation directed by Rune Carlsten
1968: a Danish adaptation directed by Mai Zetterling




External links


Complete Review of Doctor Glas
Complete original Swedish text at Project Runeberg
Introduction to Doctor Glas by Margaret Atwood
Annotations of Doctor Glas at NYU

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Jonas Bergström
• Artur Cederborgh
• Nils Eklund
• Georg Rydeberg
• Hilda Borgström
• Jacques Derrida
• Doctor Glas
• Hjalmar Söderberg
• Doctor Glas (1968 film)
• Doctor Glas (1942 film)
• Glas (surname)
• Mai Zetterling
• List of fictional doctors
• Jonas Bergström
• Kungsträdgården
• 2023 in film