"Doctor Therne" is a novel by H. Rider Haggard. The story revolves around the life of James Therne, a physician in the city of Dunchester who becomes embroiled in controversy after advocating against compulsory smallpox vaccinations. A smallpox epidemic then breaks out in the city, killing thousands, and Therne is haunted by guilt for his role in the disaster. The novel explores themes of morality, guilt, and redemption, as well as the dangers of anti-vaccination movements. It also delves into the complexities of relationships, as Therne struggles to reconcile his love for his daughter with his guilt over her death. Overall, "Doctor Therne" is a thought-provoking novel that raises important questions about the responsibilities of those in positions of authority and the consequences of their actions.
H. Rider Haggard was born on 22 June, 1856 in Braden ham, situated in the English area of Norfolk. His father, Sir William Meybohm Rider Haggard, was a lawyer, while his mother, Ella Dove ton Haggard, was an author herself. The couple had ten children, out of which Henry was conceived as the eighth. Sir Henry Rider Haggard was an English author who was known for his African thriller novel, 'Lord Solomon's Mines'. His father was a Norfolk advocate but he was denied an honourable men's schooling compared to his siblings due to his physical bluntness. At 19 years old, he started his vocation at the command of his father as an unpaid guide to Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony of Natal. Rider Haggard was married to a Norfolk beneficiary Marianna Louisa Margitson. They had four children named Jack, who died at the age of 10 due to measles, and three girls named Angela, Dorothy, and Lilias. Rider Haggard died at the age of 68 in London. His remains were cremated at St Mary's Church, Ditchingham. A rail route point of the Canadian National Railway in British Columbia has been named after him.
