A Mortal Antipathy

Name: A Mortal Antipathy
Author: Oliver Wendell Holmes

By Oliver Wendell Holmes

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American Literature Novels

About This Book

The story presents a series of linked episodes in which a curious physiological antipathy — an intense, involuntary disgust tied to scent and past impressions — shapes social interactions and romantic entanglements among a circle of students and acquaintances. Through meetings of a college society, medical study, personal letters, a committee report, and narrated life histories, characters investigate the origin and consequences of the aversion, uncovering medical observations, intimate confessions, and moral reflections. The narrative blends scientific conjecture, anecdote, and social comedy, ending with postscript glimpses that reflect on aftermath and lingering effects.

About the Author

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. was an American physician, poet, and essayist, known for his contributions to literature and his role in the development of American thought in the 19th century. He was a prominent figure in the literary circles of his time and is best remembered for his work "A Mortal Antipathy," which explores themes of love and social interaction through a unique narrative style. Holmes was also a key member of the Fireside Poets, a group that included notable contemporaries such as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and James Russell Lowell. His essays, particularly those in "Medical Essays, 1842-1882," reflect his keen observations on society and culture, showcasing his wit and intellect.