DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE

An irreverent and furiously funny account of student days at St. Swithin's, an undistinguished general hospital in a grimy section of North London, revives some of the unethical escapades in his tutelage there with high spirit. From his screening for admission at St. Swithin's, based on his rugger record, to his friendships with the seasoned Grimsdyke and the resourceful Benskin, this makes the rounds from his first unnerving anatomical dissection, to surgery under the ampitheatrical Sir Lancelot, to his first midnight midwifery (his only manoeuver the pulling back of the eiderdown in what was a completely natural childbirth), to the final wild windup as they crammed three year's study into 35 nights. His own unfruitful love life and the brilliantly improvised termination of Benskin's engagement; the steady swilling of beer- and equally constant insolvency; Benskin's brief employment as a chauffeur- and as a maitre d'hotel- all complete this vista of early experience in the healing art with scapegrace charm and ghoulish gles. And you'll be feeling no pain.