The Morbid Anatomy Anthology

The Morbid Anatomy Anthology, edited by Joanna Ebenstein and Colin Dickey

Synopsis: Since 2008, the Morbid Anatomy Library of Brooklyn, New York, has hosted some of the best scholars, artists and writers working along the intersections of the history of anatomy and medicine, death and the macabre, religion and spectacle. The Morbid Anatomy Anthology collects some of the best of this work in 28 lavishly illustrated essays. Included are essays by Evan Michelson (star of Science Channel’s hit show Oddities) on the catacombs of Palermo; Simon Chaplin (head of the Wellcome Library in London) on public displays of corpses in Georgian England; mortician Caitlin Doughty on demonic children; and Paul Koudounaris (author of Empire of Death) on a truck stop populated with human skulls. In addition are pieces on books bound in human skin, death-themed cafes in fin-de-siècle Paris, post-mortem photography, eroticized anatomical wax models, taxidermied humans and other animals, Santa Muerte, “artist of death” Frederik Ruysch, and much more.

Published: April 2014 | ISBN-13: 978-0989394307

Mini-bio: Joanna Ebenstein is a Brooklyn-based artist, curator, writer and graphic designer. She founded the Morbid Anatomy blog and website, and is cofounder and creative director of the Morbid Anatomy Museum in Brooklyn, New York. – Amazon

Colin’s Homepage: http://www.colindickey.com
Colin’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/colindickey

Book’s Homepage: http://morbidanatomy.blogspot.com.au
Book’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/morbidanatomy

An edited edition of some of the most memorable lectures hosted by Morbid Anatomy, the essays in this book range from Stephen T. Asma on maternity and the monstrous imagination to Simon Chaplin’s brilliant breakdown of the anatomization and public display of dissected bodies. Plus everything in between, including postmortem photography and mouse taxidermy classes. – from 10 Great Books on the History of Medicine

Wellcome Library Book Review