Autobiography
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“When I went to medical school, I never dreamt, that as a doctor, one day the biggest contribution I would make to people’s health, would be to hand out plastic sheets and blankets under armed guard.”
Moved by the devastating media coverage of the humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia in 1985, John Tomlinson packed his bags to volunteer for the Save the Children Fund with the intent to help rebuild, and run, a small hospital in a Northern Somali town on the border with Ethiopia. However, faced with diminishing supplies, poorly trained staff and murmurs of civil unrest, the enormity of the task soon became clear. When the actions of a resentful colleague led to his wrongful imprisonment and the escalation of ongoing tribal conflicts drew ever closer, the safety of his staff and himself became increasingly compromised.
Set in the context of a country that is not yet at peace, Noises After Dark offers first-hand experiences of historical events, and pays tribute to the unsung heroes working in conflict zones back then and today. Proving that humour and heart can still be found in the darkest of places, John’s memoir reveals the truth, both good and bad, behind the news stories and ultimately how his time there led to his realisation that health is not only about health care. With a Foreword by Bob Geldof.
Here's what readers have to say about this book....
I absolutely devoured this book. It captivated me from the first page and I could hardly put it down! I grew up in Nairobi and could completely understand John Tomlinson feelings and attachment to the people. It’s very hard to explain to anyone who hasn’t lived in Africa how awful and wonderful it can all be but this book gets as close as I have ever seen it be explained. A must read.
Just finished this amazing book. It was gripping, interesting, inspiring, funny and moving. An important, accessible and great read for all. Your professionalism and integrity shines through in the context of the health and wellbeing of people caught up in a war in Somalia, just as it did when we worked together in Public Health. Thank you John for a great personal story!
From the moment I started this book I was absolutely captivated. The story is compelling, told in such a way that the reader is taken on the journey with the young doctor. I read it in three days, engrossed by the straightforward, calm way in which Dr Tomlinson tells such an extraordinary tale.
This is a compelling, informative and moving memoir of a British doctor working for Save The Children in Northern Somalia in the late 1980s. The memoir centres around the work of Tomlinson, his colleagues, the locals who worked with them and the Somalians they were there to help. It’s awe-inspiring to read of their achievements in such difficult, and often extreme, circumstances. ‘Noises After Dark’ is full of humanity and drama. Tomlinson’s writing style is without ego or mawkishness and it’s all the more powerful for it. Without any fanfare the reader is quietly immersed into a world few will ever encounter. Chapter after chapter is full of gripping drama – whether daily life and death medical emergencies using basic supplies, being falsely imprisoned for standing up to the wrong person, dealing with a camp of thousands of refugees or being caught in the midst of a deadly civil war. Some stories need to be preserved and I’m so glad Dr. Tomlinson has shared this extraordinary memoir with us.
This is a lovely book. Dr John relates what working in a country with such problems as Somalia is really like. His humanity and humility is striking. Written with a light hand, and humour, it was a good read. It took me back to my years in Sierra Leone in the 70’s. An experience that changed my vision of the home that I had come from, and me, forever.
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