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Following Orders
 
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Following Orders (Paperback)

by James Drew (Author)
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback
  • Publisher: Bluebell Publishing (20 Feb 2006)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0953822001
  • ISBN-13: 978-0953822003
  • Product Dimensions: 18.8 x 13 x 4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 763,916 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Synopsis

Set against the backdrop of the UK 2001 Foot and Mouth Disease epidemic, this novel is a story of love, betrayal, and ultimately honour, with moral dilemmas facing the main characters. The main protagonists of this novel are vets and farmers.

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Customer Reviews

4 Reviews
5 star:
 (3)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.8 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Inside Story of Farm Animal Disease Epidemics!, 27 Jan 2006
A fascinating, if somewhat shocking, insight into the harsh realities of the U.K. pig disease epidemic of classical swine fever in year 2000 and the world's worst epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease in UK 2001. The factual archives of these epidemics can be compared online- names have been altered in the novel to protect the guilty and incomeptent! e.g. The Agriculture Minister Nick Brown is renamed "Nigel Brawn".
A dramatised story of life in the United Kingdom Government State Veterinary service with a bit of murder and intrigue thrown in for good measure. Otherwise the book is surpisingly realistic and revealing! It is also a useful catalogue of practical real0life tips on livestock disease control, the mechanisms of disease spread and the on-farm slaughter of cattle, sheep and pigs.
A gripping and very "down to earth" read. Essential reading for all vets, veterinary students, farmers and stockpersons.
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4.0 out of 5 stars Gripping and surprisingly emotional, 13 Aug 2009
By Andreas Wilhelm (Scotland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I have had this book for a couple of years now but never really had the chance to read it. Now that I have I wondered why I haven't read it earlier.
It tells the story of a government vet who is called into action with Swine fever and Foot & Mouth diseases. Following are very detailed accounts as to how the animals are culled and how/why the disease is spreading. This may well be based on facts, I wouldn't be surprised if it is. But what intrigued me most, was the emotional turmoil this guy went through, not just with the disease and the slaughter but mainly with the problems of his broken marriage and his numerous girlfriends. I have found these sections particularly poignant. Maybe because I can relate to them quite well (who can't?)
On a negative side, I think some of the characters are a bit random.
All in all, this is a gripping tale of a cultural, agricultural, social and emotional disaster.
The end is indeed rather interesting. Surely this is not based on facts, or is it ?
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5.0 out of 5 stars Exposes the arrogance and single-mindedness of those in charge, 12 Jan 2007
By A Reader (Cumbria, UK) - See all my reviews
Having seen the events of the 2001 Foot and Mouth epidemic at first hand I bought and read Following Orders with some trepidation. Was this just another case of someone jumping on the 'tragedy' bandwaggon in order to make a fast buck? I need not have worried. This is a serious and well argued critique against the policy that was pursued, woven into a 'fictional' story that is compulsive and un-put-downable.

The book had me in tears several times and in laughter at others and it helped me understand just how difficult it is to fight Government policy from within, whether it be FMD control policy or the policy in Iraq. How good would any of us have been at resisiting 'Following Orders' during Hitler's term in power during the last century? It is a chilling thought.

Thank you for writing this book Mr Drew. I suspect that in years to come when the official reports of 2001 are gathering dust and long forgotten, Following Orders will be considered the definitve text on what really happened.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
I enjoyed this book without knowing anything about animals. OK the slaughtering isn't pleasant but then it isn't in real life. Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2006

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