Post mortem: Essays, historical and medical

Imagine stepping into the past not through battles and politics alone, but through the bodies that bore them. In this collection a seasoned surgeon‑turned‑historian turns his stethoscope on a roster of well‑known figures—emperors, saints, artists, and monarchs—probing how ailments, injuries, or psychological strains may have steered their choices. From a youthful Henry VIII grappling with an emerging disease to the burning resolve of Joan of Arc under possible feverish delirium, each essay blends medical observation with the surviving chronicles of the era.

The narrative avoids lofty reverence, opting for a clear, unsentimental gaze that still honors the human drama at its core. Readers are treated to concise, vivid sketches that illuminate why a ruler might have grown ruthless or why a visionary could have seemed invincible, all grounded in the author's clinical expertise. It’s a thought‑provoking listening experience that invites you to reevaluate famous lives through the subtle, often overlooked influence of health.