Bendix is a young, penniless Frenchman determined to study medicine with London's best, Dr. Calcraft, hoping to make a name for himself and a fortune. Doctors in the 18th century did not engender respect as medical practitioners a century later would. Because these early doctors had limited access to study the human body, they were often forced to pay to have recently interred bodies stolen from graves. Bendix assists the doctor in the autopsy of one body but due to exhaustion, he ruins the research, angering the doctor. Eventually, Bendix learns that Dr. Calcraft is personally motivated in his medical research. Bendix does his best to assist the doctor but decides to take a different approach.

Bendix meets many London characters including Daniel Defoe who encourages visiting Newgate to see the most recent popular criminals.

Good read; makes you appreciate modern medicine a whole lot more! ( )

It was self aware without being self absorbed. It was insightful, intriguing, well-written, and when I finished I wanted to know what else he had written. It's difficult to describe the book because I liked it so much. It's a period piece--think Dickensian meets Freudian. Good for those who like philosophy and especially entertaining for those who have some familiarity with the history of science (though that's absolutely not a necessary ingredient for enjoying the book). ( )

Interesting, dark story set in the UK four centuries ago. Dare I say DR Jekyll and Mr Hyde? ( )

A very disturbing novel, set in London in late 17th century, early 18th. A young doctor is apprenticed to an established scientist with unusual theories about illness and infection. His attraction to a young woman of good family and the darker aspects of London's underclass work together in complex ways.