Richard Gordon

Richard Gordon, born Gordon Stanley Ostlere (1921–2017), was an English physician, ship's surgeon, and anaesthetist who became a prolific author best known for his comic novel series starting with Doctor in the House (1952), drawing from his medical experiences at St Bartholomew’s Hospital and beyond. He left medicine in 1952 to write full-time, producing over 30 books including sequels, screenplays, technical works on anaesthetics, and histories like The Private Life of Jack the Ripper. His witty early works evolved into farces, with adaptations into films, TV, and stage.