The Butchering Art

Joseph Lister's Quest to Transform the Grisly World of Victorian Medicine

By: Lindsey Fitzharris

Narrated by: Sam Woolf

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of The Butchering Art by Lindsey Fitzharris, read by Sam Woolf.

In The Butchering Art, historian Lindsey Fitzharris re-creates a critical turning point in the history of medicine, when Joseph Lister transformed surgery from a brutal, harrowing practice to the safe, vaunted profession we know today.

Victorian operating theatres were known as 'gateways of death', Fitzharris reminds us, since half of those who underwent surgery didn't survive the experience. This was an era when a broken leg could lead to amputation, and surgeons were still known to ransack cemeteries to find cadavers. And in squalid, overcrowded hospitals, doctors remained baffled by the persistent infections that kept mortality rates stubbornly high.

At a time when surgery couldn't have been more dangerous, an unlikely figure stepped forward: Joseph Lister, a young Quaker surgeon. By making the audacious claim that germs were the source of all infection - and could be treated with antiseptics - he changed the history of medicine forever.

With a novelist's eye for detail, Fitzharris brilliantly conjures up the grisly world of Victorian surgery, revealing how one of Britain's greatest medical minds finally brought centuries of savagery, sawing and gangrene to an end.

©2017 Lindsey Fitzharris (P)2017 Penguin Audio

great book

very captivating, great insight in Victorian era medicine and its surroundings. the author not only covers the medicine aspects but also details living conditions and state of the cities in this era

A masterpiece turning biography into art.

It is difficult to decide whether to classify this book as a piece of fictional literature, or surgical biography. The author approaches the telling of this biography with a novelist's sensibilities, and it is to their endless credit.

There is hardly a page that passes which is not endlessly entertaining and divinely captivating. The author strikes the perfect balance between the enumeration of biographical facts, the description of the societal and historical contexts within which the narrated events transpire, and the almost novelist narration of thought and drama.

Whether the prospective reader is a medical professional, a history enthusiast, a literary connoisseur, or a casual dabbler, this is a manifestly beneficious choice.

Super interesting

I loved both the story and the narration. I strongly suggest listening to this book to someone who is interested in medicine.

Great book :)

Great book , loved it. Great narration. Lindsey nailed it . Great book, great book , great book

From House of Death to House of Health

A lovely little book! The focus is very much on Joseph Lister, with his work put into context within the era. I missed, however, a bit more biochemical substance. For example about the disinfectants effect on bacteria and the body. We are told that it works, but not how.

It's an entertaining text and very much worth the read.

Beautifully read and inspiring story

inspiring story in these troubling times. Hopefully we get many Listers in the coming months.

Captivating

I was very excited to finally read this and it did not disappoint. Very well written and captivating. I only wish it was longer.

Excellent

This book is not for the faint of heart... it is a true glimpse to Victorian times, with all of the gory, messy details. But it's also beautifully written (and performed), and gives us a real sense of what medicine and life was like at the early days of the industrial revolution. It's not overly academic and not overly literary - it's just the right amount of both.
And truly, what a unique and compelling story to tell. Wonderful.
I should also mention Sam Woolf for his excellent narration, not a dull moment.

Fascinating!

Truly remarkable piece of medical history and the discovery of germs. At times a little gross and graphic, it only serves to highlight how far we have come. I have a new hero!

Perfect

As a professor and scientist, i found this book inspiring. It’s not just about the history of medicine. It’s about the story of a fighter for science.