A review by doomkittiekhan
Anatomies: A Cultural History of the Human Body by Hugh Aldersey-Williams

4.0

I am grateful for the subtitle of this book - that this is a cultural history of the body and not a science text. I could not help but compare this book to Adventures in Human Being by Gavin Francis. I think the two work well in tandem - or maybe I just think that because I read them almost back to back. Aldersey-Williams work focuses on our artistic and literary perceptions of the human body. Touching on Shylock's infamous demand for a 'pound of flesh', phantom emotions from organ transplants and the history of gift giving, Van Gogh's ear, the public anatomy lessons of 17th century Dutch Republic, synesthesia, the stigma associated with donating "the right" blood, under-representation of the clitoris, and ancient Egyptians disregard for the brain.

I truly loved Part I of the book which focuses on the Skin and Bones. Honestly, the pages devoted to really dissecting (pun intended) Shylock's speech about a 'pound of flesh' has totally rocked my interpretation of that scene from The Merchant of Venice.

A fun read about our need to make sense of ourselves.