235:. Merivel joins the hospital with good intentions and hopes to rediscover his medical vocation. However, he develops a romantic connection with a mentally ill patient named Katherine, whom he eventually sleeps with, and impregnates. In addition, John Pearce becomes ill, which Merivel is unable to treat. Despite Merivel's best efforts, Pearce slowly sickens and dies. After Pearce's death, Merivel is asked to leave New Bedlam and take Katherine with him. The Quakers believe their love will cure her illness and this is only possible outside in the world.
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in 1666, Merivel rescues an elderly woman from a burning house, which stirs memories of his own mother dying in similar circumstances when others were unable to help her. He gives his card to someone who asks for his name to pray for him. The card is eventually passed to the King, who is impressed by
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In
Norfolk, Merivel abandons the practice of medicine and lives a luxurious life in which he tries to take up painting with the help of an ambitious painter named Elias Finn, and indulges in failed attempts to learn the oboe. Celia is then sent to Bidnold by the King after displeasing him. One night
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asks
Merivel to care for one of his dogs, which is grievously ill. Merivel's decision not to apply any traditional cures leads to the dog recovering naturally, and he is then appointed surgeon to all of the king's dogs. The King then arranges a marriage of convenience between Merivel and one of his
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The novel tells the story of Robert
Merivel, who begins the book as a medical student, studying alongside his serious, practical friend John Pearce. John is a studious, pious counterpart to Merivel's shallow obsession with status, drinking and eating to excess. Pearce condemns the sinfulness of
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Merivel's change from debauched fool to selfless individual. It is revealed that the King has purchased
Bidnold for his own leisure purposes, but he grants that Merivel and his daughter may live there for as long as he lives.
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Merivel's father asks him to visit the King with the aim of continuing their family's connection with the royal family, but
Merivel embarrasses them both with his nervousness. However, later,
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Merivel drunkenly makes advances towards her and is promptly reported to the King by Elias Finn. The result is that
Merivel is evicted from Bidnold and left close to destitute.
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Merivel joins his old student friend John Pearce at the New Bedlam hospital, also in
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303:29 April
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
