The Book of the Human Body

Combining scientific enquiry with decorative flair, anatomical artworks radiate uncanny beauty, shaping the way we think and feel about our own bodies. This sprawling, two-volume compilation of over 75 rare books and manuscripts, from lavish anatomical treatises to rigorous surgical manuals, draws upon historical examples from around the world.

Richard Barnett is a writer and broadcaster on the history of science and medicine. He studied medicine in London before becoming a historian, and after a PhD at University College London he taught at Cambridge and Oxford. In 2011 he received one of the first Wellcome Trust Engagement Fellowships. He is the author of eight books, including Medical London: City of Diseases, City of Cures, a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week, and the Sick Rose trilogy.