7–15322.
The scene of this story is laid in and about Leipzig. A young Afghan doctor combines the hypnotic power which is his oriental heritage with wizard skill in surgery to produce a most remarkable change of identity. By drugs he keeps alive a German countess, dying of burns, until the day of the execution of a girl who is the exact counterpart of the countess. By skilful manoeuvering he effects a substitution, having prepared the countess’ body by means of drugs so that the tissues would not pass into the death rigour for a prolonged time. He transfers the memory section of the brain from the dead countess to the girl whose life he has saved, restores her to health and to the count who believes only that a restoration was effected by a skin-grafting operation.
“The story exhibits considerable constructive ingenuity, but is spun out too much, while the motive of several reprehensible transactions seems inadequate.”
| − + | Ath. 1906, 2: 509. O. 27. 120w. |
“It is ingenious and up to a certain point interesting, but credulity and sensibility finally rebel.”
| + − | Nation. 84: 362. Ap. 18, ’07. 260w. |
“In the articles of novelty, audacity, and ingenuity of plot this story ... so far surpasses the average of the fiction which strains after these things, that it needs only certain refinements of the story teller’s art and condensation, by a half—or even a third—to be more than a mere thriller and time-killer. There are skilful minor touches once in a while, and suggestions of humor even. And the elements of the gruesome and horrible are played for all they are worth.”
| + − | N. Y. Times. 12: 219. Ap. 6, ’07. 500w. | |
| N. Y. Times. 12: 657. O. 19, ’07. 30w. |
Maxwell, Sir Herbert Eustace. Memories of the months. $2.50. Longmans.