Doctors as portrayed in literature are not always saints or heroes, to put it mildly, and so it is surprising to find a saintly doctor in Balzac (1799-1850), a writer whose view of humanity could hardly be called rosy. But the hero of Le Médecin de Campagne (The Country Doctor), Benassis, is perfection itself, both professionally and morally.

The story seems in general to be a rather crude vehicle for Balzac’s own opinions.