Magnificent Obsession is a novel by Lloyd C. Douglas, first published in 1929. It tells the story of Robert Merrick, a wealthy playboy who is involved in a boating accident that leaves a doctor dead. Merrick is wracked with guilt and decides to dedicate his life to helping others, anonymously. He begins to study medicine and eventually becomes a successful doctor. Along the way, he meets and falls in love with Helen Phillips, a nurse who is devoted to her work. The novel follows Merrick as he struggles to make amends for his past mistakes and to find true love and redemption. He discovers that his actions have far-reaching consequences, and that his life is intertwined with those of the people he meets. In the end, Merrick learns that true happiness comes from helping others and that his “magnificent obsession” has been a blessing in disguise.
By Lloyd C. Douglas · First published 1929 · Genre: Religious Fiction, Romance, Drama · 22 chapters