The Fabulous Flemings of Kathmandu: The Story of Two Doctors in Nepal

by Grace Nies Fletcher

The Story of two doctors in Nepal.

Genres: Nonfiction

219 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Grace Nies Fletcher made her debut as an author at the age of seven, when some of her verses were published in the Springfield Republican. Her stories and articles appeared regularly in such national magazines as The Saturday Evening Post, Collier's, McCall's, and the Woman's Home Companion. Her first book, written in collaboration with Bishop Fred Fisher, was a study of Gandhi.

Mrs. Fletcher was born in Townsend, Massachusetts and grew up in the parsonage of the New England Conference of the Methodist Church. After graduation from Boston University in 1917, she continued her studies at Ohio Wesleyan and Columbia Universities.

Reviews

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good book for anyone interested in life in Nepal, particularly in Kathmandu, in the days before it was common to see Westerners in the country. As an American teenager, I lived there for a year in the early sixties, and my father was hospitalized for a while at Shanta Bhawan. Everything in this book comports exactly with my memories of the people and places described.

[Ken Colman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just read this for the second time. I had the privilege of being in their home at Shanta Bowen in the early 60s. There lives have touched mine and got more out the second time through. Great story of an amazing family.

[Subin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like reading old books about Nepal. There aren't that many, so I read whatever I can find. This book is mainly about Dr. Beth Fleming and her husband Dr. Bob Flemming (actually a bird scientist) and the establishment of the first modern hospital in Nepal. However, the book also gives some details on the social and political condition of Nepal. Most of these descriptions were dismal, such as lack of basic health (particularly shocking was the conditions of lepers), lack of education and basic health. We read in history books that Nepal was ruled by Rana dictators who lived lavished lives and accumulated massive wealth and power, but we don't read in the history book are how were the lives of ordinary people, this book gives some glimpses of it. The book also shows the paranoia the rulers had regarding foreigner visitor, particularly Christian missionaries. Part of the reason is how British came to rule India (which the book missed); the book mainly states other reason which is that the rulere didn't want people to be educated. Overall I like the book but there time the book goes into several passages about religion and daily lives of Flemmings and their coworkers that weren't particularly interesting.

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very exciting christian history of missionaries in Asia

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting account of mid-century Western doctors and scientists working with the people & environment & culture around them to pursue the work & research they seem compelled to do.

[Glen Brook · Rating 1 out of 5]

ok