Short Fiction · Chapter
Prologue explained
The narrator introduces himself as a physician who abandoned practice after a dissecting knife injury.
What happens
The narrator introduces himself as a physician who abandoned practice after a dissecting knife injury. He recounts his long association with Dr. Martin Hesselius, a brilliant German physician and wanderer, whose vast collection of papers he now curates. The prologue explains Hesselius's dual narrative style—first as a lay observer, then as a medical analyst—and sets up the frame for the case that follows, a series of letters from Hesselius to Professor Van Loo.
Characters to notice
- Doctor Hesselius
Introduced as the German physician and master of the narrator; his papers form the basis of the book.
Key passages
“In my wanderings I became acquainted with Dr. Martin Hesselius, a wanderer like myself, like me a physician, and like me an enthusiast in his profession.”
While traveling, I met Dr. Martin Hesselius, who was also a wandering physician and shared my passion for medicine.
Establishes the bond between the narrator and Hesselius.
“His treatment of some of these cases is curious. He writes in two distinct characters.”
Hesselius handles cases in an unusual way, writing in two different styles.
Highlights Hesselius's unique narrative method.