Two Doctors by M.R. James (1934)
The story revolves around a mysterious manuscript that contains the details of a doctor's life and death. The protagonist discovers the manuscript while on vacation and becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth about the doctor's demise. As he delves deeper into the manuscript, he uncovers a dark history of deceit, betrayal, and murder that ultimately leads to his own downfall.
By M.R. James · First published 1934 · Genre: Supernatural Fiction, Mystery, Historical Fiction · 4,127 words
First lines
It is a very common thing, in my experience, to find papers shut up in old books; but one of the rarest things to come across any such that are at all interesting. Still it does happen, and one should never destroy them unlooked at. Now it was a practice of mine before the war occasionally to buy old ledgers of which the paper was good, and which possessed a good many blank leaves, and to extract these and use them for my own notes and writings. One such I purchased for a small sum in 1911. It was tightly clasped, and its boards were warped by having for years been obliged to embrace a number of extraneous sheets. Three-quarters of this inserted matter had lost all vestige of importance for any living human being: one bundle had not. That it belonged to a lawyer is certain, for it is endorsed: The strangest case I have yet met, and bears initials, and an address in Gray's Inn. It is only materials for a case, and consists of statements by possible witnesses. The man who would have been the defendant or prisoner seems never to have appeared. The dossier is not complete, but, such as it is, it furnishes a riddle in which the supernatural appears to play a part. You must see what you can make of it.
What this Textopian page supports
Two Doctors is listed on Textopian as a short story by M.R. James, dated 1934 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: M.R. James
- Date: 1934 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Supernatural Fiction, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Psychological Fiction
- Length: 4,127 words
- Structure: 1 section, 32 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Two Doctors by M.R. James
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Two Doctors?
- How does this short story by M.R. James fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Supernatural Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Supernatural Fiction — The narrative involves supernatural elements, including dreams and mysterious occurrences that suggest a connection to the supernatural.
- Mystery — The story revolves around an unexplained death and the investigation of unusual circumstances, creating a sense of intrigue and suspense.
- Historical Fiction — Set in the early 18th century, the story incorporates historical context and characters reflective of that time period.
- Gothic Fiction — The atmosphere includes elements of horror and the macabre, typical of Gothic literature, particularly in the depiction of death and the uncanny.
Tags
Supernatural Fiction · Ghost Story · Horror · Mystery · Psychological Thriller · Short Story Collection · Classic Literature · British Literature · 19th Century Literature · 20th Century Literature · Medical Theme · Doctor's Dilemma