What do you think?
Rate this book
Doctor in the House #3
Doctor at Large
Dr Richard Gordon's first job after qualifying takes him to St Swithan's where he is enrolled as Junior Casualty House Surgeon. However, some rather unfortunate incidents with Mr Justice Hopwood, as well as one of his patients inexplicably coughing up nuts and bolts, mean that promotion passes him by - and goes instead to Bingham, his odious rival.
After a series of disastrous interviews, Gordon cuts his losses and visits a medical employment agency. To his disappointment, all the best jobs have already been snapped up, but he could always turn to general practice ...
After a series of disastrous interviews, Gordon cuts his losses and visits a medical employment agency. To his disappointment, all the best jobs have already been snapped up, but he could always turn to general practice ...
166 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1955
2 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Richard Gordon
277 books43 followersRichard Gordon is the pen name used by Gordon Ostlere (born Gordon Stanley Ostlere on September 15, 1921), an English surgeon and anaesthetist. As Richard Gordon, Ostlere has written several novels, screenplays for film and television and accounts of popular history, mostly dealing with the practice of medicine. He is most famous for a long series of comic novels on a medical theme starting with Doctor in the House, and the subsequent film, television and stage adaptations. His The Alarming History of Medicine was published in 1993, and he followed this with The Alarming History of Sex.
Gordon worked as anaesthetist at St. Bartholomew's Hospital (where he was a medical student) and later as a ship's surgeon and as assistant editor of the British Medical Journal. He has published several technical books under his own name including Anaesthetics for Medical Students(1949); later published as Ostlere and Bryce-Smith's Anaesthetics for Medical Students in 1989, Anaesthetics and the Patient (1949) and Trichlorethylene Anaesthesia (1953). In 1952, he left medical practice and took up writing full time. He has an uncredited role as an anesthesiologist in the movie Doctor in the House.
The early Doctor novels, set in the fictitious St Swithin's, a teaching hospital in London, were initially witty and apparently autobiographical; later books included more sexual innuendo and farce. The novels were very successful in Britain in Penguin paperback during the 1960s and 1970s. Richard Gordon also contributed to Punch magazine and has published books on medicine, gardening, fishing and cricket.
The film adaptation of Doctor in the House was released in 1954, two years after the book, while Doctor at Sea came out the following year with Brigitte Bardot. Dirk Bogarde starred as Dr. Simon Sparrow in both. The later spin-off TV series were often written by other well-known British comic performers.
Gordon worked as anaesthetist at St. Bartholomew's Hospital (where he was a medical student) and later as a ship's surgeon and as assistant editor of the British Medical Journal. He has published several technical books under his own name including Anaesthetics for Medical Students(1949); later published as Ostlere and Bryce-Smith's Anaesthetics for Medical Students in 1989, Anaesthetics and the Patient (1949) and Trichlorethylene Anaesthesia (1953). In 1952, he left medical practice and took up writing full time. He has an uncredited role as an anesthesiologist in the movie Doctor in the House.
The early Doctor novels, set in the fictitious St Swithin's, a teaching hospital in London, were initially witty and apparently autobiographical; later books included more sexual innuendo and farce. The novels were very successful in Britain in Penguin paperback during the 1960s and 1970s. Richard Gordon also contributed to Punch magazine and has published books on medicine, gardening, fishing and cricket.
The film adaptation of Doctor in the House was released in 1954, two years after the book, while Doctor at Sea came out the following year with Brigitte Bardot. Dirk Bogarde starred as Dr. Simon Sparrow in both. The later spin-off TV series were often written by other well-known British comic performers.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 6, 2015
Looking through the series of Doctor in the House book, brings back memories of being allowed into the adult section of the local library when I was 11 years old. This series was a good one for someone just discovering light fiction, very amusing and sex and violence free!
March 29, 2015
I am a big fan of the BBC TV series "Doctor in the House" and the subsequent spin-offs, mostly from the 1970's. It never gained much notice in the US, however, where it was never released on DVD. I've recently re-discovered the series on Youtube and, as I'd never read any of the Richard Gordon books on which it was based, I decided to pick one up. All of the characters' names are different, except for Uriah Heep-ish Bingham, but clearly a character named Grimsdyke became Dick Stuart-Clarke. Richard Gordon became Michael Upton. It was fun to see the few scenes from this book that made it to the show, though the originals are generally embryonic in comparison. Ultimately, it's best to take the book on its own terms, this back-and-forth review notwithstanding. "Doctor at Large" is droll, breezy, and with its non-explicit sexual innuendo, definitely a product of the 1950's.
December 11, 2021
5 stars
I picked up a hardback copy of Doctor at Large from the local op shop and finished it in only a couple of days. It was a fun and light read, highlighting the struggles of a newly qualified doctor trying to find their feet in the world. I imagine that this struggle remains true for many junior doctors.
The depiction of surgery as being a 'boys club' full of elitist doctors that care more about where a doctor went to school or trained, over their full skill set also remains true and problematic. It makes it especially difficult for women to enter the field of surgery to specialise. Memoirs like Emotional Female highlight this issue more.
I look forward to reading another book from this series in the future.
I picked up a hardback copy of Doctor at Large from the local op shop and finished it in only a couple of days. It was a fun and light read, highlighting the struggles of a newly qualified doctor trying to find their feet in the world. I imagine that this struggle remains true for many junior doctors.
The depiction of surgery as being a 'boys club' full of elitist doctors that care more about where a doctor went to school or trained, over their full skill set also remains true and problematic. It makes it especially difficult for women to enter the field of surgery to specialise. Memoirs like Emotional Female highlight this issue more.
I look forward to reading another book from this series in the future.
September 15, 2018
This, first published in 1955, is the third of Richard Gordon’s Doctor books; and, while not quite as entertaining as the first one, is still well worth a read. It follows the protagonist through his efforts to get a decent job, qualify as a surgeon and resolve various romantic problems, updating us on the further activities of old friends such as Grimsdyke.
The edition I got hold of (Harcourt, Brace and Co.) appeared, somewhat irritatingly, to have been revised to replace UK terms with US ones (“petrol” with “gasoline”, “lift” with “elevator”, etc.), making the result neither British nor American but a sort of ghastly mid-Atlantic.
So try to get a British edition, other things being equal.
The edition I got hold of (Harcourt, Brace and Co.) appeared, somewhat irritatingly, to have been revised to replace UK terms with US ones (“petrol” with “gasoline”, “lift” with “elevator”, etc.), making the result neither British nor American but a sort of ghastly mid-Atlantic.
So try to get a British edition, other things being equal.
June 16, 2020
I would call it a cute novel.
A very laid back story of a young doctor looking for work and ending up at different spots with weird senior doctors and their wives, rivalry and friendship with fellow freshly graduated doctors and small flings with women.
Overall it is a very relaxing slow mo read dusted with quite a few bits of humour. Quite a good read as a pace breaker I would say.
A very laid back story of a young doctor looking for work and ending up at different spots with weird senior doctors and their wives, rivalry and friendship with fellow freshly graduated doctors and small flings with women.
Overall it is a very relaxing slow mo read dusted with quite a few bits of humour. Quite a good read as a pace breaker I would say.
February 19, 2021
The antics of Dr. Gordon and his chums would fall seriously short amongst today’s growing woke society, (overt chauvinism, sexism, elitism and possible other isms too great to mention). But taken as a book of its time and accepting that no offence was intended, there’s still a few wry smiles to be had from the story telling of events obviously exaggerated for comedic effect.
September 18, 2017
The recently late Richard Gordon (I thought he'd died years ago) was a genius at portraying the attitudes and camaraderie of young doctors trying to make their way on the world. Readers who think the tales seem far-fetched are deluded. The hapless Dr Gordon has emerged from five years at medical school as related in the peerless "Doctor in the house", the reading of which inspired me to study medicine. Some of the anecdotes related have become medical cliches,
"Big breaths."
"Yeth, and I'm only thixthteen."
His description of medical hierarchy shows that things never change. Reading the British Medical Journal he observes, "...all I could bring myself to read...was the obituaries. These are prepared on the first-, second- or third-class funeral principle, overworked G.P.s succumbing in early life getting small print at the end, consultants larger type well-spaced out, and leaders of the profession whom everyone has thought dead long ago appearing with a photo taken when they were twenty-four."
His descriptions of doctors let of the leash at a reunion dinner "all drinking like pirates" , and a shabby hotel on the road north as having "furniture arranged haphazardly, like the bodies of mountaineers frozen to death where they stood", are absurdly accurate and original.
It makes me nostalgic for the days when being a doctor could be fun. Does anyone else remember that?
Richard Gordon was rather dismissive of this series, typically underestimating his genius and influence. He maintained that his greatest contribution to the health of the nation was giving up medicine early to write books rather than expose patients to his perceived insufficiencies.
I was once asked at medical school interview at Barts why did I think so many doctors become authors. I stumbled over the answer. I didn't get in. I should have remembered this book.
"Big breaths."
"Yeth, and I'm only thixthteen."
His description of medical hierarchy shows that things never change. Reading the British Medical Journal he observes, "...all I could bring myself to read...was the obituaries. These are prepared on the first-, second- or third-class funeral principle, overworked G.P.s succumbing in early life getting small print at the end, consultants larger type well-spaced out, and leaders of the profession whom everyone has thought dead long ago appearing with a photo taken when they were twenty-four."
His descriptions of doctors let of the leash at a reunion dinner "all drinking like pirates" , and a shabby hotel on the road north as having "furniture arranged haphazardly, like the bodies of mountaineers frozen to death where they stood", are absurdly accurate and original.
It makes me nostalgic for the days when being a doctor could be fun. Does anyone else remember that?
Richard Gordon was rather dismissive of this series, typically underestimating his genius and influence. He maintained that his greatest contribution to the health of the nation was giving up medicine early to write books rather than expose patients to his perceived insufficiencies.
I was once asked at medical school interview at Barts why did I think so many doctors become authors. I stumbled over the answer. I didn't get in. I should have remembered this book.
January 8, 2025
I was introduced to the Doctor in the House Series last year, and it instantly won me over with its wit and charm.
This year, I wanted to start on a cheerful note and decided to continue the series with Doctor at Large. While it didn’t quite match the laugh-out-loud hilarity of Doctor on the Brain, it was still an enjoyable read that kept a smile on my face throughout.
What stood out to me was Dr. Richard Gordon’s journey—starting as an unpromising intern and evolving into a seasoned doctor.
His experiences expose some unsettling flaws and shortcuts in the medical profession, which felt both fascinating and a little frightening. It left me questioning the infallibility we often associate with doctors, making the book more than just a humorous tale—it’s a peek behind the curtain of medical life.
This year, I wanted to start on a cheerful note and decided to continue the series with Doctor at Large. While it didn’t quite match the laugh-out-loud hilarity of Doctor on the Brain, it was still an enjoyable read that kept a smile on my face throughout.
What stood out to me was Dr. Richard Gordon’s journey—starting as an unpromising intern and evolving into a seasoned doctor.
His experiences expose some unsettling flaws and shortcuts in the medical profession, which felt both fascinating and a little frightening. It left me questioning the infallibility we often associate with doctors, making the book more than just a humorous tale—it’s a peek behind the curtain of medical life.
February 12, 2020
8/10. I fancied dipping into my past so revisited a book last read and enjoyed about 50 years previously as a schoolboy working my way through the library starting with A’s, ten books at a time. I recall as if it was yesterday getting stuck on Richard Gordon as I loved these stories and eventually loved the films too. I even recalled some of this plot - amazing when I forget what I’ve just had for lunch! Shame they’re out of print as I bet the health service is little changed from these farcical days. Recommended.
November 12, 2017
Better than I remembered; I can't believe I understood all the references when I was young teenager and there's a whole extra edge added by the non-pc content direct from the 1950s. It won't be long before more of these get explored.
March 10, 2019
Very interesting, funny and very serious medical book, from my engineering background so terminologies were rather to big for me but I rather enjoyed the reading and experience the life of Dr Richard Gordon; career, religion, social life, ambitions, and love life. Sorry Miss Plumtree. lol
February 22, 2021
I reread this book a number of times. This is the sort of literature I love. When Dr Gordon got his first job it was in a house run by a penny pinching doctor who sold useless free samples to his patients. All this any more
July 20, 2017
A little dated but quite funny.
December 14, 2018
A good book.
December 19, 2018
Still makes me laugh out loud despite it’s age.
August 8, 2025
Not quite as much of a string of anecdotes as the previous two books. This one is more of a string of linked anecdotes.
August 9, 2025
I liked the wit and dry humour, but the plot felt more outdated and misogynistic as it progressed. Overall it was quite entertaining and had an amusing ending!
January 5, 2026
7.5/10
February 23, 2020
Being a massive James Herriot fan I wanted to love this; after all, the subject matter is not so dissimilar and both are pitched as being a humorous take on their lives/starting out/patients etc. Unfortunately, where I find Herriot charming, this author just seemed to wallow in his poor choices which, whilst funny, were obviously well within his control. I’d imagine a lot of it is exaggerated but it got a bit wearing after a while.
November 13, 2011
The book that the fillum, and later the TV series was based on, one of a series of books.
The Doctor graduates from St Swithin's hospital and gets into a few broad situations in a GP practice up north, and then in Harley Street, and then the story settles down to the dull routine back at St Swithins.
For those easily offended, there is sex in it of course.
The Doctor graduates from St Swithin's hospital and gets into a few broad situations in a GP practice up north, and then in Harley Street, and then the story settles down to the dull routine back at St Swithins.
For those easily offended, there is sex in it of course.
December 7, 2014
Top notch humor
After seeing the films,(I'm still trying to find the BBC television series) I just had to read the books, and I wasn't disappointed! Dr Gordon writes in an easygoing style that is an absolute joy to read. I recommend this series to anyone who loves a little light humor. You won't regret it!
After seeing the films,(I'm still trying to find the BBC television series) I just had to read the books, and I wasn't disappointed! Dr Gordon writes in an easygoing style that is an absolute joy to read. I recommend this series to anyone who loves a little light humor. You won't regret it!
October 30, 2010
Frankly I found the Doctor Series very Boring.
Read
August 18, 2021A good rollicking yarn of Dr Gordon's first couple of years of medical practice after qualifying at St Swithins. An enjoyable read.
May 1, 2017
My university must me read this shit.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews