The Surgeon, The Midwife, The Quack

‘A positive pharmacopoeia of physic from a bygone age. Peeling back the skin of Renaissance medicine to reveal that underneath the poultices and potions of unspeakable ingredients there was definitely a method. Eye-opening and perception changing, with just the right amount of gore, a must-read.’ —Prof John Tregoning, author of Infectious

‘Astonishing… This is not a simple story of cool science overtaking quackery, this is medical progress forged in the fire of experimentation and the creative energy of the times… Skuse’s meticulously researched and deliciously detailed book brings a vivid cast of characters out of the shadows, and gives a proper place to the unsung pioneers.’ —Victoria Shepherd, author of A History of Delusions

Dr. Alanna Skuse is a literary scholar, historian, and author with a focus on stories about medicine, bodies, and Renaissance England. She teaches literature as Associate Professor at the University of Reading and has published academic books and articles on the history of cancer, surgery, disability, Shakespeare, and self-harm. She also runs public history projects, and writes and broadcasts for BBC Radio, Wellcome Stories, the Conversation, and History Today.