Berger's early novel puts on display all his painterly skill for description, his flair for metaphor and his powerful social conscience, through the stories and conversations of an ordinary hospital ward. If you admire Berger's later books it's a gem that will deepen your understanding of his work -- GAVIN FRANCIS

Praise for John Berger: John Berger seems to me peerless -- SUSAN SONTAG

John Berger has made the world a better place to live in. I do not say this lightly -- ARUNDHATI ROY

[He] reminds us of what most contemporary writing would have us forget, which is that great writers are distinguished, ultimately, by the quality of their humanity -- GEOFF DYER

There are a few authors that can change the way you look at the world through their writing and John Berger is one of them -- JARVIS COCKER

Praise for A Fortunate Man: In 1967 A Fortunate Man marked the most significant step forward in the collaboration of a writer and photographer since Let us Now Praise Famous Men by Walker Evans and James Agee. Incredibly, it still does . . . A masterpiece -- GEOFF DYER

It's one of my favourite books in the world, an ongoing inspiration as to how books should be written (and photography used) -- ALAIN de BOTTON

A genuine tour de force . . . The intimate portrait of one man and his microscopic world reveals the faults and strains of a whole society - * Observer *

I only wish I could do justice in a few words to the richness that makes this book so compelling - * Guardian *

A book about caring that will make you care, and a book about deep healing that may heal your soul. It is also, almost 50 years on, uncannily timely -- SIMON GARFIELD

From the 1972 Booker Prize-winning author comes an examination of masculinity, social covenants and murder that develops into a masterclass in humanity, with an introduction by Benjamin Myers