The Pig-faced Lady of Manchester Square: And Other London Medical Marvels

by Jan Bondeson

This is the remarkable story of the lives of individuals afflicted with severe deformities and how 17th and 18th century British society reacted to their extraordinary bodies. This is the remarkable story of the lives of individuals afflicted with severe deformities and how 17th and 18th century British society reacted to their extraordinary bodies.

Genres: Nonfiction

344 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2004

About the author

Outside of his career in medicine, he has written several nonfiction books on a variety of topics, such as medical anomalies and unsolved murder mysteries.

Bondeson is the biographer of a predecessor of Jack the Ripper, the London Monster, who stabbed fifty women in the buttocks, of Edward 'the Boy' Jones, who stalked Queen Victoria and stole her underwear, and Greyfriars Bobby, a Scottish terrier who supposedly spent 14 years guarding his master's grave.

He is currently working as a senior lecturer and consultant rheumatologist at the Cardiff University School of Medicine.


(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author did an excellent job here collecting all kind of human anomalies here: the inseparable brothers, the hairy maid at the harpsichord, Jo-Jo, the dog faced boy, the pig-faced lady craze of the 1815s, horned humans, Daniel Lambert the human colossus, 18th century London giants, the two-headed boys, strange eating habits... you will find many great illustrations and print caricatures insides. Marvelous historical work. Really recommended!

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Abandoned on page 36 of 264. Lots of historical evidence given for each person discussed, who saw them, when, who painted them etc. But its just a long list of people without any context. Flicking ahead there is some discussion of issues raised, such as should conjoined twins be separated. However too boring a writer to proceed.