The Tiger Lily

"The Tiger Lily" by George Manville Fenn is a story from the late 1800s that takes place during a time of change in medicine and society, focusing on the bond between a rich, sick man named Ezekiel Masters, his young doctor Michael Thorpe, and a kind nurse named Cornelia, who work together to care for him. The story looks at ideas of trust, right and wrong in the medical field, and how work and personal life get mixed together, creating a path for characters to grow and deal with complicated feelings. The book starts by showing us Ezekiel Masters, who is very sick and doesn't want to have an operation; as he spends time with his doctor and nurse, their conversations are funny, tense, and caring all at once. Through their words, Masters shows his cleverness and unwillingness, while Cornel shows she is supportive and trusts Thorpe's skills, setting up a situation where life and death hang in the balance.