Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
Excellent, 8 Jun 2005
This was very well written, a gripping insight into the life and times of John Hunter. Very well researched and detailed, although rather gruesome in places, but a fascinating history of the man known as the father of modern surgery. Would be of interest to those interested in history, as well as students of medicine
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A Brilliant and Detailed Biography of the British Vesalius, 7 Jun 2006
When John Hunter was born in 1728, medicine and surgery was still in a dark age riven with ancient beliefs, an unwillingness to accept proven discoveries and an even great unwillingness to change.
John Hunter, by sheer hard work and dedication opened up the human body as no surgeon or anatomist had done for over 150 years, and people looked, listened and many learned. His influence on his students would see great names in surgery such as John Abernethy and Percival Pott, who, in their own right, took Hunter's teaching and practice into the operating theatres of Britain. This was the beginning of a new dawn for surgery, anatomy and science.
Wendy Moore has created a masterpiece for historians of medicine and science, as this book has been sourced from many primary sources, which she has brought together to provide a readable, if somewhat gruesome account of John Hunter, who by all accounts has to be the British Vesalius.
Although books on the history of medicine come and go, Knife Man will be up there with the front runners. This book will be an excellent and informative read for students of the history of medicine, doctors, surgeons and those with a fascination for the medical past. It is very reasonably priced and deserves every one of the five stars I have awarded.
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A Truly Brilliant Biography, 15 Aug 2007
As far as biography's go, The Knife Mans is probably the best I have ever read. Although the brilliance of the book is significantly aided by its extraordinary subject matter, Wendy Moores fluid, informal writing style and indefatigable research make this one of the most entertaining, eloquent, informative and above all readable non-fiction books in publication.
Progressing with infinite detail worthy of the man himself the book follows the life of John Hunter from his impoverished birth in Scotland through his many achievements in London and finally to his death in 1793. Throughout Moores gives both detailed accounts of all his work as well as fascinating anecdotes concerning other famous figures connected with the hunters such as Samuel Johnson, Edward Jenner and Benjamin Franklin to name but three. She also quotes many contemporary sources while resisting the temptation to cite long and unnecessary paragraphs.
The books only floor is the slightly 'saint-like' picture of Hunter that Moore portrays. Although she is not afraid to confront the darker issues of his life, she seems to do so only so that she can jump to his defence. A staunch disciple, she condemns anyone who dares say a word against Hunter as either ignorant or jealous despite there being several occasions when he clearly acted immorally.
However this is a small price to pay for such a terrific account of Georgian surgery and society, and particularly of the remarkable life of John Hunter. As long as you take his 'golden-boy' image with a slight pinch of salt you will be enthralled by this book. I wait expectantly for Wendy Moores next literary venture!
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