Blood

Blood is a complex composition that is essential for life and can signify death. This volume explores the many meanings of blood across disciplines, including art, genetics, and medicine. It examines the paradoxical nature of blood, its scientific reality, and its intimate connection with womanhood.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 204 pages
Publication date: 07 July 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Blood, the essence of life, possesses a remarkable complexity that is intricately tailored to meet our essential requirements and sustain our vital functions. It can also serve as a symbol of mortality, and the term "bloody" carries a sense of impurity and misfortune. This captivating volume, stemming from the 2021 Darwin College Lectures, brings together esteemed scholars from various disciplines to delve into the multifaceted interpretations of blood. Through the artistic lens of artist Marc Quinn, blood manifests as a paradoxical entity, challenging our notions of self. In the realm of genetics, Walter Bodmer unravels the scientific truth behind bloodlines and diasporas, shaping our understanding of community. The act of blood transfusion, as explored by Rose George, holds the potential to save lives or, as revealed by Claire Roddie, to cure cancer. Tim Pedley and Stuart Egginton delve into the extraordinary complexity of blood as a vital biological fluid. Moreover, Sarah Read examines the profound connection between blood and womanhood, drawing parallels with Carol Senf's analysis of Bram Stoker's iconic novel, Dracula.

Weight: 416g
Dimension: 170 x 245 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009205498