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737 reviews for:
The Facemaker: A Visionary Surgeon's Battle to Mend the Disfigured Soldiers of World War I
Lindsey Fitzharris
4.28 AVERAGE
737 reviews for:
The Facemaker: A Visionary Surgeon's Battle to Mend the Disfigured Soldiers of World War I
Lindsey Fitzharris
4.28 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
A fascinating look on facial reconstruction during this period. It was easily digestable and managed to deliver on both the facts and narrative side of things.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
pareVery likely the best history book I have ever read. Particularly grateful that the author highlighted Gillies's care and attention towards trans friends
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Drug use, Outing, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Antisemitism, Death of parent
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Very repetitive to the point that even on audio book i felt like i was listening to the same thing over and over. Sadly because the story probably would've been interesting to learn about if it was written about better.
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
A very impressive and expansive history grounded in anecdote—made what could have been an impenetrable medical textbook engaging and easily digestible, without watering down the science too much.
“Bodies were battered, gouged, and hacked, but wounds to the face could be especially traumatic. Noses were blown off, jaws were shattered, tongues were torn out, and eyeballs were dislodged. In some cases, entire faces were obliterated.”
Humanity has likely always experienced conflict, but World War I unleashed horrors that were incomprehensible to previous generations. Around 23 million military personnel were wounded, many by new and devastating weapons that were designed to shatter and burn. The most sympathy and revulsion was saved for men whose faces were destroyed — losing what made them recognizable also meant losing a critical part of their humanity. It was surgeon Harold Gillies, plastic surgeon pioneer, who spent years painstakingly bringing that humanity back.
I cannot imagine the pain and fear experienced by those who endure war. Using the personal journals and letters of Gillies, his patients, and those around them, Fitzharris provides a heart-wrenching story of the impact of facial disfigurement and reconstruction. The photos she includes are difficult to look at, but also so incredible — they showcase the monumental effort Gillies and his team put into their work, and I’m sure give the merest inkling of insight into what it took to make these men whole. A brutal but beautiful read.
Pick up a copy of The Facemaker if you enjoy medical history or biographies — and have a strong stomach.
Humanity has likely always experienced conflict, but World War I unleashed horrors that were incomprehensible to previous generations. Around 23 million military personnel were wounded, many by new and devastating weapons that were designed to shatter and burn. The most sympathy and revulsion was saved for men whose faces were destroyed — losing what made them recognizable also meant losing a critical part of their humanity. It was surgeon Harold Gillies, plastic surgeon pioneer, who spent years painstakingly bringing that humanity back.
I cannot imagine the pain and fear experienced by those who endure war. Using the personal journals and letters of Gillies, his patients, and those around them, Fitzharris provides a heart-wrenching story of the impact of facial disfigurement and reconstruction. The photos she includes are difficult to look at, but also so incredible — they showcase the monumental effort Gillies and his team put into their work, and I’m sure give the merest inkling of insight into what it took to make these men whole. A brutal but beautiful read.
Pick up a copy of The Facemaker if you enjoy medical history or biographies — and have a strong stomach.
dark
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Uh oh. A book came in about my favorite esoteric topic - facial reconstruction surgery. I'm about to become (even more) insufferable to my loved ones. :-D
Update: This was everything I hoped for...AND MORE. And bonus, I passed it along to a coworker that also enjoys morbid and horrifying topics. (And shares my affection for Boardwalk Empire. RIP Richard Harrow. <3)
Whew, I'll admit it though, this is a harrowing read. Every time I encounter detailed content about the horrors of WWI, I am absolutely amazed that ANYONE survived.
I would highly recommend this book to people interested in WWI and/or medical history, as well as folks that enjoy engaging narrative NF in the style of Erik Larson or Mary Roach.
Update: This was everything I hoped for...AND MORE. And bonus, I passed it along to a coworker that also enjoys morbid and horrifying topics. (And shares my affection for Boardwalk Empire. RIP Richard Harrow. <3)
Whew, I'll admit it though, this is a harrowing read. Every time I encounter detailed content about the horrors of WWI, I am absolutely amazed that ANYONE survived.
I would highly recommend this book to people interested in WWI and/or medical history, as well as folks that enjoy engaging narrative NF in the style of Erik Larson or Mary Roach.