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Franz Kafka, The Metamorphosis 

The Metamorphosis (1915) is a novella about a man named Gregor Samsa who wakes up one morning to discover he’s been transformed into a giant bug. Like “A Country Doctor,” the story deals with isolation and alienation. It also incorporates the surreal, nightmarish elements Kafka is known for, along with failures in communication and philosophical dread. 

Franz Kafka, “A Hunger Artist”

The short story “A Hunger Artist” (1922) features a protagonist who fasts as performance art. This character is isolated from his community and viewed with suspicion. Just as the doctor in “A Country Doctor” feels unappreciated and betrayed, so does the hunger artist.

Edith Wharton, Ethan Frome

The protagonist of Edith Wharton’s 1911 novel Ethan Frome struggles with isolation and a lack of community. Like the country doctor, Ethan has repressed desires, both personal and professional. Additionally, the use of a stark winter setting in Ethan Frome is like that in “A Country Doctor.” For the main characters of both works, the setting is an external representation of the inner lives of each man.

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