Murdering to Dissect: Grave-Robbing, Frankenstein and the Anatomy Literature

by Tim Marshall

When Frankenstein appeared in 1818 it was well known that the medical profession lent silent support to the grave-robbing gangs who regulary sold the surgeons newly-buried bodies for dissection. This resurection trade led to the sensational Burke and Hare case, which revealed that the bodies of murder victims had been pased to the Edinburgh surgeon Dr Robert Knox with his connivance.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

354 pages, Hardcover

First published December 31, 1995

About the author

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Reviews

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author mentioned many interesting topics here: Frankenstein and the 1832 Anatomy Act, the dead body business, the institutions of law, the gibbet, Dickens' Barnaby Rudge, Hogarth' The Reward of Cruelty, gallows, the watching ritual, Frankenstein and the resurrectionist culture, Burkophobia... even though he comes up with many great illustrations the book is at parts quite hard to read and a bit too much. Overall interesting insights but a bit too academic. Would have expected more from the title.