Polly Morland’s book was all over social media when it was first published, and deservedly so. It’s a sequel, if you like, to John Berger’s A Fortunate Man, published in 1967, which followed his friend, a country GP he called ‘Dr Sassall’, over three months. Berger could hardly have thought that the book would make such an impression, becoming recommended reading for medical students.
Morland’s eloquent book follows the woman who became a partner in what was Sassall’s practice many years later, following her over a period which includes the pandemic. She’s very much part of the community although careful to place herself a little outside it, empathetic and attuned to signals sent out by patients who might have come in for one thing but are much more worried about something else. She’s well-liked and respected, the kind of doctor we’d all like to have, caring deeply for her patients some of whom she’s known since birth. It’s a fascinating record and a timely commentary on the state of our health service struggling under a burden of past cuts to cope with demands it was hardly designed to cater for.
This book was a very personal read for me. Quite some time before Morland’s book was published, I’d worked out from a blogger’s review of Berger’s book that ‘Dr Sassall’ had been my family doctor when I was a teenager. As compassionate and empathetic as Morland’s GP, I’m sure he would have been pleased by her treatment of her patients.
What about you, any blasts from the past you’d like to share?
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If this is a Blast From the Past, I wonder why I haven’t come across Polly Morland? It seems I should put this right.
She wrote so well about the (unnamed) GP, keeping herself out of the frame. It’s an uplifting read.
Uplifting is good ….
It certainly is!
I must be a little bit of an outlier on this one because, although she did ‘keep herself out of the frame’, I felt she came across as ‘too good to be true’ with so many strengths and no significant weaknesses that I couldn’t believe in her as a real person. I read this immediately after reading A Fortunate Man and I thought that was much the superior book. Perhaps I am just a little cynical knowing too many real GPs!!
I’m sure we can agree to differ on that! I know from experience that not all GPs come close to Morland’s depiction of ‘Dr Sassall’s’ successor but her portrayal rang true for me.
Thankfully I definitely agree that some GPs are wonderful (I am married to one!). My point was rather that I could not believe in the ‘fictional’ character rather than at all to criticise her or negate her many strengths. I could not believe that the doctor successor could be good at x and also really excel at y and not mind z, if that makes any sense whatsoever! Now I am wondering if I should reread the book. It is a while since I read it but I do remember that was what I thought back then.
Differences of opinion do lead to interesting discussions! And I do certainly agree that both books were uplifting.
How dull life would be if we all had the same opinions!
Not an author I’ve heard of before!
She’s also a documentary maker but I don’t think she was particularly well known until A Fortunate Woman.
This sounds lovely- so much strain on the NHS, it’s reassuring when you hear stories like this.
I’d really recommend it. I think you’d appreciate it.
What an interesting personal connection: stranger than fiction!
It certainly added something to my reading!
Hi Susan. I have never heard of this book before and it sounds like a fascinating read. Very interesting personal connection. I will keep an eye out for it. I am finding that your recommendations are worth looking into to. Also, I recently finished reading an earlier Blast from Your Past, Dreamland by Kevin Baker. I really enjoyed it! An excellent book! Thank you for letting me know about it. Have you read the other two books in the trilogy? I will definitely be ordering a copy of the second book soon.
Thanks for you lovely comment, Randall. I’m so pleased to hear you’ve found some recommendations that work for you. I lost track of Baker after that but will look up the other two.