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A Fortunate Man

The Story of a Country Doctor
Series: Canons
3.91 goodreads logo

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( 1,535 ratings, 197 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
A Fortunate Man by John Berger is a poignant exploration of the life and work of a country doctor in a rural English village. It intertwines the physician's dedication to his patients with profound reflections on humanity, medicine, and the connection between the individual and their community. Through the lens of the doctor's everyday encounters, the book offers a deeply humanistic perspective on the art of healing and the challenges faced by those who provide care.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2799
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this exploration of a country doctor's life if you appreciate thoughtful reflections on the intersection of art, medicine, and philosophy. This biography captures the profound connection between a dedicated physician and his rural community, offering insightful observations about humanity, compassion, and the essence of caring.

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Berger's exploration of what it means to heal, now inducted into the Canons series nearly fifty years after its first publication.

Berger's exploration of what it means to heal, now inducted into the Canons series nearly fifty years after its first publication

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In 1966, John Berger spent three months in the Forest of Dean shadowing an English country GP, John Sassall. Sassall is a fortunate man—his work occupies and fulfils him, he lives amongst the patients he treats, and the line between his life and his work is happily blurred.

In A Fortunate Man, Berger's text and the photography of Jean Mohr reveal with extraordinary intensity the life of a remarkable man. It is a portrait of one selfless individual and the rural community for which he became the hub. Drawing on psychology, biography, and medicine, A Fortunate Man is a portrait of sacrifice. It is also a profound exploration of what it means to be a doctor, to serve a community, and to heal.

With a new introduction by writer and GP, Gavin Francis.

Series: Canons

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

A Fortunate Man is praised for its profound collaboration of text and photography, akin to the celebrated work of Evans and Agee. Reviewers laud the book for its deep exploration of human care, healing, and societal reflection, considering it both a timeless and beautiful meditation on these themes. It's frequently described as a masterpiece that continues to resonate with readers, offering inspiration and insights into how books can be artfully constructed.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781782115038

Publisher: Canongate Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 February 2016

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Canongate Canons

Edition: Main - Canons Edition

Illustration: numerous b&w integrated photos

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Gavin Francis
  • Photographs by Jean Mohr

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 13.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 157g

Pages: 176

About the Author

John Berger was born in London in 1926. His seminal Ways of Seeing was one of the most influential books on art in the 20th century. His many books, innovative in form and far-reaching in their historical and political insight, include To the Wedding, King, and the Booker Prize-winning novel, G. He lives and works in a small village in the French Alps, the setting for his trilogy Into Their Labours (Pig Earth, Once in Europa and Lilac and Flag). His collection of essays The Shape of a Pocket was published in 2001. His most recent work, Understanding a Photograph, was edited by Geoff Dyer and published in 2013. Jean Mohr is a Swiss documentary photographer. He has worked with the Red Cross, the World Health Organization, and the International Labour Organization.He has produced 26 books of photography, five with his literary collaborator John Berger and one with Edward Said. In 1956 he married Simone Turrettini, a documentary filmmaker. They have two sons and four grandchildren.

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