The Doctor's Wife: A Novel

"The Doctor's Wife: A Novel" by M. E. Braddon is a 19th-century fiction that begins with young medical student George Gilbert's planned holiday to London, setting up themes of obligation, family ties, and the allure of city life compared to his small town. Raised in the quiet village of Graybridge-on-the-Wayverne under the watchful eye of his father, George anticipates an exciting trip which puts him alongside the Sleaford sisters. In London, he connects with his schoolmate, Sigismund Smith, who is now a struggling author, and he meets Isabel Sleaford, a woman with dreams of romantic adventures. However, the sudden disappearance of the Sleaford sisters introduces an element of mystery, hinting at unforeseen changes that will significantly alter George's ordinary existence.