Description
Book SynopsisThis delightful memoir is the story of a life well lived—a Hong Kong doctor who worked as a surgeon for over fifty years and who later turned his hand to his other great passion, gardening. At times
amusing, at times
heartbreaking, and at other times
educational and instructive, Arthur van Langenburg describes real-life cases and the medical causes of illnesses, including many
incredible stories of life-saving operations that will keep you riveted to your seat.
Interspersing these chapters are tales from his
fascinating personal life, and reflections on his journey to becoming an expert gardener. Throughout the book is woven the metaphor of the author’s journey to Ithaka, as described in a moving poem of the same name that charts a path for how to live a life ‘full of adventure, full of discovery’.
Beautifully written in a lively, engaging style, this book is sure to win the hear
Table of ContentsI THE WORLD OF MEDICINE 1. A Day in the Life of a Surgeon / 3
2. What is a Surgeon? A Bit of History / 7
3. Medical School / 9
4. The Clinical Years / 15
5. Call Me Doctor / 19
6. Training to be a Surgeon / 25
7. Swinging London / 31
8. Liverpool / 39
9. Murder Most Foul / 45
10. Return to Academe / 49
11. Emergencies / 55
12. Burnout / 65
13. Teacher and Students / 71
II HOME AND HERITAGE 14. Reading, Writing and Arithmetic / 83
15. The World of Books / 87
16. Heritage, Language and Identity / 91
17. Fusion Food: The Ties that Bind / 99
18. Our Furry Friends / 103
19. The Sea, the Sea / 107
20. A Tree Grows in Shouson Hill / 111
III DOCTORS AND PATIENTS 21. Private Practice / 121
22. Limitations in Private Practice / 125
23. The Canossian Sisters and Their Hospital / 131
24. The Reluctant Superintendent / 135
25. The Archbishop / 141
26. The Consul / 145
27. Ho Mui the Fisherwoman / 149
28. Russia: In Search of a New Stapler / 153
29. Sidewalk Consultations and Good Samaritans / 157
30. Doctors as Patients / 161
31. Relatives and Friends / 169
32. Life, Death and Everything Between / 173
33. The Unkindest Cut of All / 181
34. A Personal Crisis / 185
35. Everybody’s Little Problem / 189
36. Variations on a Theme of Identity / 195
IV TRANSITION 37. The Surgeon as Counsellor / 203
38. Diet and Wellness / 209
39. The Writing Bug Bites / 215
40. From Scalpel to Spade / 219
41. The Medical Museum Garden / 229
42. The Surgeon/Gardener Link / 233
43. Identity Revealed / 235
44. Nature’s Cycle / 239
45. Responsible Living / 243
46. A Day in the Life of a Gardener / 247
Appendix: Sartorial Considerations for the Gardener / 259
