Girl Who Gave Birth to Rabbits: A True Medical Mystery

by Clifford A. Pickover

This can justifiably be called history's most fascinating medical mystery, a dark, true-life Alice in Wonderland tale with a streak of horror. Why should we care today about a poor, eighteenth-century girl who gave birth to monstrosities? Mary Toft's story bears uncanny parallels with our own time and contains perennial science and superstition separated by the flimsiest of curtains, justice and morality, crime and punishment, and the greed and basic fears at the core of human nature. Prepare yourself for a shattering odyssey as acclaimed polymath Clifford Pickover takes you to the ultimate frontier of medical speculation. With numerous illustrations, this is an engrossing and thoroughly unique introduction to eighteenth-century science and its metaphor for today's scientific superstitions and politics. For Mary, conspiracies are everywhere, the line between good and evil lost, and the consequences exceed her most unthinkable, private desires.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

232 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2000

About the author

Clifford Alan Pickover is an American author, editor, and columnist in the fields of science, mathematics, science fiction, innovation, and creativity. For many years, he was employed at the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown, New York, where he was editor-in-chief of the IBM Journal of Research and Development. He has been granted more than 700 U.S. patents, is an elected Fellow for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, and is author of more than 50 books, translated into more than a dozen languages.

Reviews

[Ereck · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dreadful, intellectually irresponsible book. Anyone interested in Mary Toft should look to Dennis Todd's Imagining Monsters, which I've perused but have yet to read. Or, just look to 18th-century works about Toft.

[Julie]

People do weird things for inexplicable reasons. I'm surprised no one has turned this into a horror movie yet.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really shouldn't give this a high rating, but I am because it is thoroughly entertaining and ridiculous. Along the way he dabbles in all kinds of strange notions and hoaxes, none of which are carefully inspected, but all are fun to think about. The writing style (and font- it's like 14 point) is more appropriate for children- that is if you're ok with your kids reading about a woman shoving dead rabbits up her vagina or a boy vomiting frogs or any number of strange sexual myths.

Perfect for a coffee table.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of a crazy woman from long ago who pulled off a fantastical hoax...a portrait of how desperately people want to believe that impossible things can happen. Ultimately not that well written, with no real thesis, but the gathering of this incredibly weird tale still makes for an excellent read.

[Ann Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should make a shelf for "awkward subway reading" books. This one would definitely be at the top of the list.

Very funny though, and entertaining in spite of (because of?) the cheesy writing style. And I learned some gross stuff to bring out at parties if I ever feel the need to make everyone a little queasy and uncomfortable.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ya know, I thought this would fall into one of those "so bad it's good" categories, but no - just bad. I'll give it 2 stars, however, for the sketch imagery peppered throughout the book.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boy, those victorians were sure silly. How could they believe such a dumb stunt? A fun read.

[Erin O'Riordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this more than 10 years ago, but according to my journal, I thought it was weird, a little creepy, and overall pretty interesting.