The Strange Case Of Dr Simmonds & Dr Glas

THE STRANGE CASE OF DR SIMMONDS & DR GLAS

by Dannie Abse

 

Nomination: Booker Longlist 2002

 

Date Read: November 25, 2022

 

This bizarre novella follows the life of Dr. Richard Simmonds, who practices medicine in London. Having had his face disfigured in childhood, Dr. Simmonds has never married and has never had a girlfriend. He does, however, become obsessed by Yvonne, the wife of his patient Anton Bloomberg.

 

The Bloombergs are newlyweds and in addition to advice on Anton’s asthma, Anton further seeks advice on how to overcome his new wife’s rebuffs of his advances. They have been married for about a month, yet Yvonne will not consummate the marriage. Dr. Simmonds advises Anton to move into another bedroom to ease her anxiety and given time, nature will take its course.

 

Of course, this advice serves the doctor’s interests as he doesn’t have to imagine Yvonne making love to Anton. He can keep her pure in his own mind. Meanwhile, Yvonne gifts Dr. Simmonds the notebook of Dr. Glas, a man that conspired with a patient’s wife to kill the patient. 

 

Written in journal-like entries, The Strange Case slowly shows the devolvement of Dr. Simmond’s sanity to the point where he too kills one of his patients with morphine during an asthma attack; that patient being Anton Bloomberg. Dr. Simmonds never achieves a relationship with Yvonne but finally ends his life to squelch his suffering.

 

There are a lot of derogatory comments throughout about Jews. I didn’t understand the importance of including these vile remarks. Set in post-war London, perhaps they are to mark the mindset of the time but I didn’t feel they added anything whatsoever to the narrative. Perhaps the only reason Abse chose to create this anti-Semitic part of Dr. Simmond’s character is to make him more repulsive. I also found it odd that several people confront him about his views and ultimately determine him not anti-Semitic. Huh? Anyway, I could have done without it.

 

Ultimately disappointing, The Strange Case leaves me feeling like I wasted my time. I didn’t gain anything by reading this. I didn’t like the characters. I didn’t like the anti-Semitism. Perhaps the only thing I did enjoy is Abse’s prose when Dr. Simmonds was on the Heath, relaxing under a chestnut tree.  

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