Bodysnatchers : digging up the untold stories of Britain's resurrection men / Suzie Lennox.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lennox, Suzie, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Grave Robbing--history.

History, 18th Century.

History, 19th Century.

Body snatching.

History.

United Kingdom.

Body snatching--Great Britain--History.

Medicine--Great Britain--History.

Medicine.

Great Britain.

Body snatching--Great Britain.

Medical Subjects:

Grave Robbing--history.

History, 18th Century.

History, 19th Century.

United Kingdom.

Local Subjects:

Body snatching--Great Britain.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

133 pages, 6 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations

Place of Publication:

Barnsley, South Yorkshire : Pen & Sword History, 2016.

Summary:

"In this chilling history of the bodysnatching trade, the stories of Britain's lesser known Resurrection Men are told. Here are the stories of the men who robbed graves during the winter months of 1742 - 1832, selling fresh cadavers to anatomists up and down the country all in aid of medical advancement. The murders of Burke and Hare often dominate the macabre tales of bodysnatching, but the stories of Henry Gillies, William Patrick and Joseph Grainger are all just as gruesome. Stories involving medical students and anatomists are retold as we discover the cases that have become hidden in history. Anatomy schools, short of fresh cadavers for dissection would pay high prices for corpses, asking no questions about their origins. This resulted in the criminal underworld of the 'Sack 'em up Men' or bodysnatchers, which spread fear and horror throughout the United Kingdom. It's time to discover these lesser known stories about Britain's often forgotten history."--Publisher description.

Contents:

The beginnings of bodysnatching in England & Scotland

First forays: from student outings to the rise of the professional bodysnatcher

A slick operation: the Modus Operandi of the bodysnatching trade

Preventative measures: the art of keeping your loved ones safe

Punishment: dealing with the perpetrators

The trials of the solicitors' clerk: the case of John Craig Hodgson

'For the purpose of gain and profit': the case of Henry Gillies

A catalogue of errors: when snatching a corpse did not go to plan

The final chapter: bodysnatching at the time of the Anatomy Act.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781783463428

1783463422

OCLC:

947149828

Publisher Number:

99974777107