An Oak Coffin single work   short story  
Issue Details: First known date: 1895... 1895 An Oak Coffin
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

English tale of a father's feigned death to collect insurance money and the terrible toll on his wife and daughter's health. A London doctor is consulted by a mother concerned about her daughter's health and learns of her conviction that her father is still alive. Includes his consultation with the family doctor; the exhumation of a coffin; the mother's illness and delirious confessionl reunion of husband and wife on their deathbeds (her "suicide" from an overdose of Indian hemp); his confession of the counterfeit to collect the insurance money and avoid dishonour; and the daughter's love and loss of both parents. Interesting theme: sense of daughter's love for both parents and their passion for each other is well-conveyed; also the sense of the doctor's compassion. (PB)

Notes

  • From 'Stories from the Diary of a Doctor', in Strand Magazine (PB)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon The Australian Journal vol. 31 no. 365 October 1895 Z1049695 1895 periodical issue 1895 pg. 24-29
Last amended 5 Sep 2003 09:52:00
Settings:
  • c
    England,
    c
    c
    United Kingdom (UK),
    c
    Western Europe, Europe,
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