Doctor Cupid: A Novel

About this book

Doctor Cupid is a comic novel by Welsh author Rhoda Broughton, first published in 1891. The story opens with a whimsical, almost theatrical declaration, “Ich komme, ich weiss nicht woher; Ich gehe, ich weiss nicht wohin”, setting a tone of playful uncertainty. The first chapter frames the narrative as a ledger of debts and credits between a “Big House” and its smaller occupants, cataloguing everything from “heart‑burnings from envy” to “the acquaintance of several damaged fine ladies.” This inventory is delivered through a lively dialogue among sisters Margaret, Prue, and Peggy, who tally their social obligations while recalling past mischiefs, such as blackening their faces with soot. Their banter quickly moves to the present, where they prepare for a dinner‑party, discuss garden hoses, and speculate about the mysterious “Freddy Ducane” and the ever‑present Lady Betty. The opening establishes a tightly knit domestic world where humor, gossip, and the minutiae of genteel life intertwine.

The novel’s voice is exuberant and colloquial, peppered with lyrical asides, mock‑heroic verse, and a rapid exchange of witty repartee. Broughton’s prose reflects the late‑Victorian penchant for social satire, yet it retains a distinctly Welsh sensibility in its focus on family dynamics and rural charm. Readers who enjoy dialogue‑driven stories, gentle mockery of aristocratic pretensions, and a cast of spirited young women navigating the rituals of courtship and household duty will find this work engaging. Its lively rhythm and affectionate parody make it a rewarding choice for those who appreciate period humor and the intricate choreography of 19th‑century domestic life.