The Man who was Blind

Summary

Ferdinand was born blind. Now aged 25, he hears of an Italian doctor who is rumoured to be able to cure cases like his own.

His family persuade the doctor to travel to England and attempt to heal his eyes. The cure is lengthy and arduous. Ferdinand must lie in a darkened room for weeks, his eyes bound up in an irritating plaster and wet bandages. The doctor is optimistic of success, but warns that any cure might only be temporary. Worse still, just as the cure is almost at an end, the doctor vanishes secretly and in great haste to another, more profitable patient in South America. Ferdinand completes the cure according to the directions left by the absent doctor and finally the day arrives for him to remove the bandages and see whether the cure has worked. But despite all the preparations, Ferdinand is not prepared for what happens next....