Dr. Harold Munnings reads excerpts from his new book, “Westward: The Walk of a Bahamian Doctor” at his book launch at COB's Chapter One bookstore. Many came out to support and purchase a copy. Dr. Paul Ward of Grand Bahama was the MC, and Rev Angela Palacious gave a prayer. Dr. Timoth Barrett also offered remarks. Photo: Theo Tsavoussis
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Nassau, Bahamas - A unique memoir was launched at the College of The Bahamas’ Chapter One
bookstore on
Friday November 20, as one of the nation’s widely
respected medical practitioners is making regional literary history.
This, his third book, titled
“Westward: The Walk of a Bahamian Doctor”
is set to become the first publicly available memoir written by a
medical professional native to the West Indies.
His
story spans four generations of a Bahamian family from
nineteenth-century out-island farmers to city professionals at the turn
of the century. It pays homage to a father who became the first
Bahamian civil engineer, to a mother who entered the work force with
only a primary school education and to the village that raised them. It
is packed with pearls such as the Bahamian contribution to the success
of Campbell's Soup and accounts of shocking crimes like the murder that
led two young American men to the gallows at Nassau’s Fox Hill Prison.
Dr. Munnings describes his medical school training and gives a portrait
of the life of an intern. Readers will find this account of a Bahamian
doctor’s journey to be fascinating and entertaining.
Dr.
Harold Munnings was born at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Nassau
and he now works there and at a private clinic as a consultant
gastroenterologist. He is the author of “Princess Margaret Hospital:
The Story of a Bahamian Institution” and “Bellyache: A History of
Gastroenterology in The Bahamas.”
His latest book is available at Chapter One bookstore, Logos bookstore and Grosvenor Medical Centre, and online at www.munningswestward.com.
