Thomas Browne, Letter to a Friend, upon the Occasion of the Death of his Intimate Friend

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Although published posthumously in 1690, Thomas Browne’s

A Letter to a Friend

was written much earlier, in late 1650s. It opens as a condolence letter to a local landowner on the death of a mutual friend, a gifted young man named Robert Loveday of Chediston in Suffolk. It is Browne’s sad task announce the death to the recipient as well as condole with him.

Browne had been called in to consult on Loveday’s advanced case of consumption. In his character as doctor, Browne brings his wide medical knowledge to a discussion of the course of the disease in the patient – his unmistakable mortal symptoms, the unfounded but hopeful diagnoses by members of Loveday’s family, and the results of the autopsy. This medical structure, which roughly follows the prescribed elements of the

673 words

Citation: Preston, Claire. "Letter to a Friend, upon the Occasion of the Death of his Intimate Friend". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 12 July 2006 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=4013, accessed 19 March 2024.]

4013 Letter to a Friend, upon the Occasion of the Death of his Intimate Friend 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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