Foreign Bodies: The Terror of Contagion, the Ingenuity of Science

In his epic history of vulnerable humanity caught between the terror of contagion and the ingenuity of science, Simon Schama explores how smallpox, cholera, and plague have affected cities and countries throughout history. He highlights the work of Waldemar Haffkine, a Jewish microbiologist who created the first mass production line of vaccines in Mumbai, and was tragically brought down in an act of shocking injustice. The book crosses borders between east and west, Asia and Europe, and emphasizes the interconnectedness of humanity and nature.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 480 pages
Publication date: 29 February 2024
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd

This magnificent and frequently moving work of history is a testament to Simon Schama's remarkable ability to blend captivating storytelling, rigorous analysis, and wry humor. The Daily Telegraph praised it as "superb," while the Observer hailed it as "extraordinary." The Guardian described it as "history of the best sort—humanly engaged but never sentimental."

The book delves into a tragic yet scientifically innovative period, reminiscent of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Cities and countries were engulfed by panic and death, desperately seeking vaccines while fearing the unknown consequences of inoculation. However, as Simon Schama reveals in his epic history of vulnerable humanity caught between the terror of contagion and the ingenuity of science, this has happened before.

Through captivating, page-turning stories set in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Schama delivers his message. Smallpox strikes London, cholera hits Paris, and plague reaches India. The scenes of terror, suffering, and hope unfold in hospitals, prisons, palaces, and slums, with an unforgettable cast of characters. Philosopher-playwright burning up with smallpox in a country chateau, vaccinating doctor making house calls in Halifax, and woman doctor navigating the stricken streets in south India, driving her inoculator-carriage amidst the dead monkeys dropping from the trees.

But the story doesn't end there. We also witness the remarkable breakthroughs that saved countless lives in Paris, Hong Kong, and Mumbai. At the heart of it all, an unsung hero emerges: Waldemar Haffkine. A Jewish student from Odesa who became a microbiologist at the Pasteur Institute, Haffkine is hailed in England as "the savior of mankind for vaccinating millions against cholera and bubonic plague in B."

This book is a powerful reminder that history has a profound impact on our present and future. It urges us to learn from the past, to build upon our successes, and to work towards a better future. It is a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of human beings in the face of adversity.

Weight: 434g
Dimension: 130 x 197 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781471169922