Facemaker

The Facemaker by Lindsey FitzharrisThe First World War was a war unlike any that preceded it in scope, technology, and human tragedy. Modern mechanized warfare resulted in broken bodies and shattered faces, wounds that would have been unsurvivable in previous wars. The men who suffered these horrific wounds were seen as monsters and were shunned by society, instead of being lauded as war heroes.Amid this carnage, a brilliant surgeon from New Zealand, Dr. Howard Gillies became a pioneer in the emerging field of plastic surgery. His surgical techniques were truly innovative. He established the first hospital dedicated to facial reconstruction in Britain. There, he assembled a remarkable team of surgeons and artists who helped to rebuild the mangled faces of wounded soldiers. Their work was nothing short of miraculous.The Facemaker is a well-written and deeply researched account of the work of Gillies. It is also a poignant recounting of the lives of some of the men he helped to reclaim their lives. Dr. Fitzharris has created a riveting and entertaining text that explores the work of Gillies. She treats the patients’ histories with dignity and respect. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning of the collaboration of medicine and art during the First World War.

If someone knew all about World War I, some of the information might not be useful. However, it was just right for me. I knew something about it, but not all the details. I found I couldn't put this book down; it was that interesting. Most helpful were the photographs of some of the men before, during, and after surgeries; I can't imagine how they managed to survive both the initial wounds and the--up to--30 or 40 surgeries they needed to complete reconstruction. Should be required reading for anyone who thinks that war will be a walk in the park; details were vivid and gruesome. The author included many endnotes, and this was obviously a well-researched non-fiction book based on fact rather than conjecture. Excellent book; highly recommended.

Wanted at least another 200 pages; was that good.

This book does not just go in to detail about the evolution of plastic surgery but describes the battles that took place WW1. I enjoyed learning about the documented stories of patients and appreciate the work of Medical Pioneers such as Gillies and other physicians mentioned in the book. I enjoyed both this book and The Butchering Arts.

a great book

Lindsey Fitzharris is deftly carving out a place at the top of the list of medical historical authors. Following on the heels of the engrossing story of the development of Victorian surgery in The Butchering Art, her new book focuses on the pioneering plastic surgeon, Harold Gillies, whose work in a dedicated hospital in England with soldiers disfigured by terrible new weapons in use in World War I led to rapid improvements in facial reconstructive surgery. Gillies’ compassion for his patients fuels his techniques to not only restore function but also to give these men faces that allow them to confidently return to their communities and families. Fitzharris is an excellent writer who weaves into her compelling and richly researched narrative many personal stories and anecdotes from diaries and other written documents. An excellent book.

There are so few medical history books that deserve five stars, but this is one book that I wish I could give more than five stars.I first encountered Dr Fitzharris when she hosted “The Curious Life and Death of...” series on the Smithsonian Channel. When I found out she had a Twitter account (@DrLindseyFitz), I quickly followed her when she discussed the subject of her next book, the father of modern plastic surgery, Harold Gillies. Since I already knew something about Dr Gillies work, I was excited to read the book. And as you have guessed, I wasn’t disappointed. I was mesmerized.Dr Fitzharris expertly weaves three separate paths: before and after World War I; surgeon Harold Gillies, the man who would give faces back to those who thought it was hopeless; and the patients themselves, who had suffered horrendous war injuries.The author considers herself a storyteller and a teller of stories she is. While the focus of the book was on Dr Gillies, she skillfully explains the background to World War I and the absolute horror of war.This book doesn’t flinch when it comes to demonstrating the horrors of war. If the verbal descriptions don’t shake the reader to the core, the photographs certainly will.Given the fact that Dr Gillies was working in an era of surgery where penicillin and other antibiotics we’ve come to depend on won’t be available until the next World War, he does a remarkable job of reconstructing the faces destroyed by gunfire; many times, having to invent new techniques. While the photographs are difficult to look at even today, his work is remarkable.This is not an easy book to read but read it you should, especially if you are a historian, interested in World War I, or fascinated with medical history.

I ordered this book because I saw the author being interviewed on Amanpour news hour. I just started reading it and it is something people need to know about. It concerns the horrors of war and the possibilities for the reconstruction of disfiguring facial wounds and healing. So much research has gone into this book which is important for so many areas of interest for professional as well as lay people, especially history, medical, surgical procedures, war, psychology, social adaptation and so on. It is also the story of one of the most admirable physicians, Harold Gillies, who was truly a pioneering surgeon.

I heard about this on a podcast and simply loved it. Kind of a history nerd and this gave new insights to all the war movies- pre antibiotics, how do you restore function and any normalcy to someone who has lost a significant portion of their face? An easy read that doesn’t feel like a textbook despite being non fiction. Enjoyed it so much I bought her other book before I’d even finished this one.

The story is interesting and the author masters the narrative and the chapter divisions, so that you can read it through at one sitting.

Fascinante historia de cómo Harold Gillies lograba, casi sin precedentes , reconstruir la cara de los soldados de la primera guerra mundial. La mayoría de estos accidentes debidos a las trincheras.

Das Buch beschreibt nicht nur die Geschichte des Arztes sondern auch sehr schön die Schicksale seiner Patienten! Genauso lesenswert wie Fitzharris anderes Buch

This is such a moving and fascinating book! I love it so very much when history reads like a novel. The Facemaker is beautifully written and extraordinarily gripping ; you'll learn not only about Harold Gillies, genius surgeon, but also about many of the people whose faces he reconstructed. Some of their stories are heart-wrenching, and the amazing ability of Dr Fitzharris to bring the events and the characters back to life made this book all the more thrilling - and at times distressing of course.What I loved most though is that to me, Lindsey Fitzharris managed to make me feel that through all the horrors and carnage there was hope, and even the space for beautiful things. I'm glad I got to know the existence of a man such as Harold Gillies.