The three books by talented South African writer/vet, Mike Hardwich. Photo: Supplied by Tracey McDonald Publishers.
The Lion and the Lamb – Memoirs of a Vet is an absolutely delightful book by South African author and vet, Mike Hardwich.
KZN-based Mike, recounts the many interesting adventures he enjoyed while treating a variety of wild and domestic animals, from circus elephants (who cry, seriously), racing horses (and their shady underworld), and a (very unkind) ostrich, to the tiniest Marmoset and a pet dassie called Rocky.
His tales are interspersed with warm accounts of the people (including his own family) behind the many animals with which he has come into contact. Told without fanfare or too much sentiment, Mike’s humble passion for his profession belies his experience and talent.
In The Rhino and the Rat this talented storyteller brings us more tales from his interesting career. Sadly, The Tiger and the Tortoise are Hardwich’s “Final Memoirs of a Vet”. In the latter Hardwich speaks of his childhood encounters with animals, his experiences at university, his first and second vet practices and the very important people he comes across. He ends with a description of the Mike Hardwich Foundation, an organisation aimed at sterilising the pets of disadvantaged owners.
The Lion and the Lamb, The Rhino and the Rat and The Tiger and the Tortoise are most enjoyable reads for the whole family. Published by Tracey McDonald Publishers.
a feast of tales 