The Empress and the English Doctor

How Catherine the Great Defied a Deadly Virus

The Empress and the English Doctor
Lucy Ward
RRP:
NZ$ 42.99
Our Price:
NZ$ 34.39
Hardback
h234 x 153mm - 352pg
7 Apr 2022 UK
International import eta 7-19 days
9780861542451
Out Of Stock
Currently no stock in-store, stock is sourced to your order
A killer disease . . . an all-powerful Empress . . . an extraordinary encounter . . . the astonishing true story. No disease sparked as much dread in the eighteenth century as smallpox. It killed children all across Europe with ruthless efficiency and those lucky enough to survive were disfigured with the tell-tale pitted scars. But a method offered hope in preventing serious infection: inoculation, the practice of inserting smallpox pustules into an open wound. Those inoculated were protected from death. Only one problem remained: convincing people to take the treatment. A pamphleteering war raged in Europe about the risks and benefits of inoculation, and public resistance ran high. Catherine the Great broke the deadlock by requesting that a young Essex doctor, Thomas Dimsdale, inoculate her. Lucy Ward expertly unveils how this extraordinary situation came about - and how it kickstarted a trend of inoculations all over Europe. This is a fascinating history of Enlightenment ideals, political intrigue, and the human quest to cure disease.
' A fascinating and beautifully told story about courageous vaccination pioneers. ' -- Kate Bingham, Chair of the UK Vaccine Taskforce ' Timely and engaging. . . the unlikely and remarkable story of how an English doctor, Thomas Dimsdale, and Catherine the Great, the Empress of Russia, showed great personal courage and took serious personal risks to promote inoculation against smallpox using a method that had originated in Asia. The success of these early efforts led directly to the first vaccine by Jenner, and over the next two centuries saved millions of lives that would have been lost to many different diseases, culminating in the recent vaccines against Covid-19. A truly fascinating book that reads like a thriller. ' -- Venki Ramakrishnan, former president of the Royal Society ' It is hard to imagine a more timely or important book than The Empress and the English Doctor. Mirroring so many of the vaccination issues of our modern age, as well as those of bodily autonomy, feminism, and power, Lucy Ward' s lively and in-depth exploration is a must-read. ' -- Jojo Moyes ' A rich and wonderfully urgent work of history which engagingly recounts one of the greatest moments in modern science and public health: a story of Enlightenment conviction, Court intrigue, Anglo-Russian relations, and timeless, personal bravery. An expertly recounted eighteenth-century tale of political leadership and medical progress with obvious insights for today. ' -- Tristram Hunt, director of the Victoria and Albert Museum ' Packed with political intrigue and scientific insight, this is a fascinating narrative revealing how early inoculation pioneers overcame superstition, prejudice and misinformation. Move forward more than two centuries and the parallels with the current Covid-19 pandemic are incredible!' -- Jonathan Ball, professor of virology, University of Nottingham ' This is a wonderful book. It tells the story of the greatest medical discovery before Pasteur, inoculation against smallpox, through the life of a Quaker doctor, Thomas Dimsdale, and his journey to Russia to treat Catherine the Great. . . It' s a long time since I' ve read a history book as beautifully constructed as this - it' s a remarkable achievement. ' -- David Wootton, anniversary professor of history, University of York, and author of The Invention of Science ' This is a remarkable and fascinating story of scientific discovery, breakthrough medicine and inspirational female leadership by Catherine the Great. The revelations in this book resonate with today' s battle against Covid-19. Lucy Ward has undertaken brilliant detective work. . . This is a must-read book. ' -- Sir Norman Lamb, former UK Health Minister ' Timely. . . The author demonstrates beautifully how London has historically led on the science with first "inoculation" and then "vaccination" - indeed, longer than most people realise. ' -- Professor Dame Sally Davies, former Chief Medical Officer for England ' In this fluent and enlightening account of the fight to eradicate the terrifying scourge of smallpox, Ward deftly describes how an English Quaker doctor, Thomas Dimsdale, played a crucial role as a pioneer of the new technique of inoculation. . . The Empress and the English Doctor is a gripping read and all the more timely and extraordinary for having been written in the midst of the Covid pandemic. ' -- Dr Helen Rappaport, bestselling author and historian specialising in late Imperial and Revolutionary Russia and Victorian Britain ' A tale of multiple and intertwining themes - private and public health, public administration, and the politics of Empires. . . Although the book is about things that happened over 250 years ago, the hopes and fears of the people facing those difficult choices resonate with our own times. ' -- Laurie Bristow, former UK ambassador to the Russian Federation ' Women' s role in driving forward key scientific discoveries has too often gone unrecognised. The Empress and the English Doctor honours Catherine the Great' s pioneering scientific journey, demonstrating her personal bravery, her exacting insight and her resolve to protect others against smallpox. This thrilling and important story offers an insight into the determination, tenacity and grit needed to work in science, even today!' -- Professor Teresa Lambe, Professor of Vaccinology and Immunology, University of Oxford and co-designer of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine ' A fascinating, deep dive into a neglected topic in the history of vaccines, with many lessons for the prevention of viruses today. Lucy Ward blends history and personality to shed light on a story that has been overlooked in favour of Jenner and his milkmaid. ' -- Dr John Tregoning, Reader in Respiratory Infections, Imperial College London
Lucy Ward is a former journalist for the Guardian, currently working in communications. As a Westminster Lobby correspondent, she campaigned for greater women' s representation and secured the first ever Lobby job share. From 2010-12, she lived with her partner and her three children in Moscow, renewing her interest in Russian history. She lives in Essex.
Status: Active
ISBN-13: 9780861542451
Published: 7 Apr 2022
Published In: United Kingdom
Imprint: Oneworld Publications
Publisher: Oneworld Publications
Format: Hardback
Height: 234mm
Width: 153mm
Spine: 30mm
Pages: 352

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