The Facemaker: A Visionary Surgeon's Battle to Mend the Disfigured Soldiers of World War I
Who Would Like This Book:
If you love dramatic stories of innovation, bravery, and medical history, this book is an absolute gem. Fitzharris brings to life both Dr. Harold Gillies - the pioneering plastic surgeon - and his patients, World War I soldiers whose lives were transformed by groundbreaking reconstructive surgery. Written with compassion and vivid storytelling, it’s fascinating for anyone interested in history, medicine, or simply inspiring tales of resilience. You don’t need to be a medical expert; even casual readers will be swept up in the gripping, human stories. Perfect for history buffs, healthcare professionals, and anyone who enjoys a blend of science and powerful biography.
Who May Not Like This Book:
If graphic medical details make you queasy, you might struggle with some of the content - there are unflinching descriptions (and in the print edition, photographs) of serious facial injuries and surgeries. Readers looking for a traditional, sweeping war history or those who prefer lighter nonfiction may not connect with the intense focus on surgical detail and post-war trauma. Some might find the subject matter emotionally heavy.
About:
'The Facemaker: A Visionary Surgeon's Battle to Mend the Disfigured Soldiers of World War I' by Lindsey Fitzharris is a gripping account of the origins of plastic surgery during World War I. Through the lens of Dr. Harold Gillies, the pioneer in reconstructive surgery, the book delves into the compassionately presented history of maxillofacial injuries suffered by soldiers and sailors, showcasing the horrors of war and the miraculous advancements in medical science. Fitzharris skillfully weaves together the narratives of Dr. Gillies, the patients who underwent groundbreaking surgeries, and the backdrop of World War I, providing a deeply informative and sensitively approached exploration of a subject often overlooked.
The book is lauded for its excellent research, compelling storytelling, and the author's ability to bring to life the brutal reality of WWI and the remarkable resilience of the human spirit. It offers a unique perspective on the beginnings of plastic surgery, shedding light on the challenges faced by both medical professionals and war survivors during one of the darkest periods in modern history.
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Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book includes graphic descriptions and images of war injuries, which may be distressing to some readers.
From The Publisher:
A New York Times Bestseller
Finalist for the 2022 Kirkus Prize | Named a best book of the year by The Guardian
"Enthralling. Harrowing. Heartbreaking. And utterly redemptive. Lindsey Fitzharris hit this one out of the park." -Erik Larson, author of The Splendid and the Vile
Lindsey Fitzharris, the award-winning author of The Butchering Art, presents the compelling, true story of a visionary surgeon who rebuilt the faces of the First World War's injured heroes, and in the process ushered in the modern era of plastic surgery.
From the moment the first machine gun rang out over the Western Front, one thing was clear: humankind's military technology had wildly surpassed its medical capabilities. Bodies were battered, gouged, hacked, and gassed. The First World War claimed millions of lives and left millions more wounded and disfigured. In the midst of this brutality, however, there were also those who strove to alleviate suffering. The Facemaker tells the extraordinary story of such an individual: the pioneering plastic surgeon Harold Gillies, who dedicated himself to reconstructing the burned and broken faces of the injured soldiers under his care.
Gillies, a Cambridge-educated New Zealander, became interested in the nascent field of plastic surgery after encountering the human wreckage on the front. Returning to Britain, he established one of the world's first hospitals dedicated entirely to facial reconstruction. There, Gillies assembled a unique group of practitioners whose task was to rebuild what had been torn apart, to re-create what had been destroyed. At a time when losing a limb made a soldier a hero, but losing a face made him a monster to a society largely intolerant of disfigurement, Gillies restored not just the faces of the wounded but also their spirits.
The Facemaker places Gillies's ingenious surgical innovations alongside the dramatic stories of soldiers whose lives were wrecked and repaired. The result is a vivid account of how medicine can be an art, and of what courage and imagination can accomplish in the presence of relentless horror.
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