Random Short Story Question. HELP!

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12-30-2009, 12:50 AM
pygmyhippo9

Random Short Story Question. HELP!

Hello! I read a short story in one of my British Literature classes two years ago. I really enjoyed it and now for the life of me I can't remember who wrote it or what it was called. I do know that its a British male author who's well known or we wouldn't have read his short story, and it was about a doctor and a girl whose name might have been Violet and he was taking care of her, and it felt like there was a lot of sexual repression within the plot, and the end was that the girl drowned in the pond by the house. The beginning was a little slow, but the ending was fantastic. It's been bugging me for a while now so I decided to throw it out there in case anyone has any idea of what I'm talking about. I'd say it was written either in the late 1800's or early 1900's. Any guesses? It's okay if you're not 100% sure, any leads or clues would really help me out! Thanks again! :)
12-30-2009, 03:15 AM
wlz

I'm sure I have read the same story; now we are in the same boat - forgive the platitude. I will scan my library at home later today in the hope of finding it or, some clues to finding out more about it. Wlz.
12-30-2009, 05:08 AM
Dinkleberry2010

It sounds something like The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen
12-30-2009, 10:11 AM
pygmyhippo9

Jermac, I checked that story out and it wasn't the story I'm looking for. Although it looks quite interesting on its own. Machen's story was too long, and the story I'm searching for had a plot that was more contained. All the action just happened, there were no characters looking back and talking about it like in The Great God Pan. But thanks anyway! :)

And Wlz, yes please look and let me know if you find anything.
12-30-2009, 10:13 AM
pygmyhippo9

More things I recall now from the story I'm looking for: the beginning was slow, as I've said, and there were a few minor characters in the minor and a little dog, and then as the story progressed it seemed to focus on the doctor and his patient.

This is driving me absolutely nuts!
12-30-2009, 11:31 AM
Red-Headed

Quote:

Originally Posted by pygmyhippo9

Hello! I read a short story in one of my British Literature classes two years ago. I really enjoyed it and now for the life of me I can't remember who wrote it or what it was called. I do know that its a British male author who's well known or we wouldn't have read his short story, and it was about a doctor and a girl whose name might have been Violet and he was taking care of her, and it felt like there was a lot of sexual repression within the plot, and the end was that the girl drowned in the pond by the house. The beginning was a little slow, but the ending was fantastic. It's been bugging me for a while now so I decided to throw it out there in case anyone has any idea of what I'm talking about. I'd say it was written either in the late 1800's or early 1900's. Any guesses? It's okay if you're not 100% sure, any leads or clues would really help me out! Thanks again! :)

It may help if you could narrow 'British' down a bit. Was it an English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or Commonwealth author?
12-30-2009, 11:50 AM
pygmyhippo9

That's the thing. I'm not sure, so I don't want to limit anything by stating specifics like that. My guess would be English, but I'm not 100% sure. I know its too general of a question, but I figured I'd give it a shot.
12-30-2009, 12:11 PM
Red-Headed

Quote:

Originally Posted by pygmyhippo9

That's the thing. I'm not sure, so I don't want to limit anything by stating specifics like that. My guess would be English, but I'm not 100% sure. I know its too general of a question, but I figured I'd give it a shot.

This does sound vaguely familiar to me, I can't remember any specifics though. I don't know why but it makes me think of D.H. Lawrence. (I don't think it is Hardy).
12-30-2009, 01:51 PM
pygmyhippo9

I will say that I thought of D.H. Lawrence also, but then it seemed strange that we would have read only that short story and none of his other more famous works. But I'll investigate some more.
12-30-2009, 02:20 PM
Red-Headed

I have been thinking about it. I'll have to get back to you. Good luck.
12-30-2009, 02:47 PM
pygmyhippo9

UPDATE:

Thank you Red-Headed so much. Turns out it was D.H. Lawrence. The short story is called The Horse Dealer's Daughter. I AM SO EXCITED THAT I FINALLY FOUND IT!!!! Literature OCD to the extreme. :banana:
12-30-2009, 03:09 PM
Red-Headed

I'm glad you found it. I think I read it years ago, I just knew it seemed familiar in some way the way you described it.