The Facemaker: One Surgeon’s Battle to Mend the Disfigured Soldiers of World War I
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The poignant story of the visionary surgeon who rebuilt the faces of the First World War’s injured heroes, and in the process ushered in the modern era of plastic surgery
From the moment the first machine gun rang out over the Western Front, one thing was clear: mankind’s military technology had wildly surpassed its medical capabilities. The war’s new weaponry, from tanks to shrapnel, enabled slaughter on an industrial scale, and given the nature of trench warfare, thousands of soldiers sustained facial injuries. Medical advances meant that more survived their wounds than ever before, yet disfigured soldiers did not receive the hero’s welcome they deserved.
In The Facemaker, award-winning historian Lindsey Fitzharris tells the astonishing story of the pioneering plastic surgeon Harold Gillies, who dedicated himself to restoring the faces – and the identities – of a brutalized generation. Gillies, a Cambridge-educated New Zealander, became interested in the nascent field of plastic surgery after encountering the human wreckage on the front. Returning to Britain, he established one of the world’s first hospitals dedicated entirely to facial reconstruction in Sidcup, south-east England. There, Gillies assembled a unique group of doctors, nurses and artists whose task was to recreate what had been torn apart. At a time when losing a limb made a soldier a hero, but losing a face made him a monster to a society largely intolerant of disfigurement, Gillies restored not just the faces of the wounded but also their spirits.
Meticulously researched and grippingly told, The Facemaker places Gillies’s ingenious surgical innovations alongside the poignant stories of soldiers whose lives were wrecked and repaired. The result is a vivid account of how medicine and art can merge, and of what courage and imagination can accomplish in the presence of relentless horror.
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Additional information
| Publisher | 1st edition (1 Jun. 2023), Penguin |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 336 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0141990295 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0141990293 |
| Dimensions | 12.8 x 3.2 x 19.8 cm |
by luke perry
A member of my family, Walter Perry, was a patient at Queen Mary’s Hospital at Sidcup and had his face rebuilt in 1917 after receiving a gun shot wound which shattered his upper jaw and left a gaping exit wound. I previously read Dr. Andrew Bamji’s brilliant book “Faces from the Front” to better understand the pioneering work carried out by Dr. Harold Gillies and his team, what Walter would have had to endure and what his rehab would have involved. Thanks to Dr Bamji, I was able to get a copy of Walter’s medical records, including Gillies’ handwritten notes as well as before and after photographs, which starkly illustrated the extent of damage. Against this background, I was really excited to learn more and keenly awaited the publication of Dr Lindsey Fitzharris’s book “The Facemaker”. I was not disappointed. It is well researched and beautifully written, bringing Gillies’ character to life, as well as his deep compassion for his patients, positive attitude towards recovery and obsessive determination to make a difference. Not only Gillies though, but the humanity of all of the patients whose stories unfold from page to page. I could not put this wonderful book about hope and resilience down and am grateful to have been able to learn more. Highly recommended, as is a visit to the recently unveiled memorial to the men with broken faces at Queen’s Hospital.
by Natalie H
I was gripped by this book from the first page. It is really well written and gives a fascinating insight into a well documented period of history. Harold Gillies revolutionised the lives of many people with his plastic surgery.
by DR. D.
Deeply informative and sensitively approached book about a subject that doesn’t get nearly enough attention. Would highly recommend to anyone with an interest in history, medicine or just sheer human resilience. Really brought its subjects to life. I got through it in a couple of days and only wish there was another one!
by mr n.
A well written story A n insight into early plastic surgery It also shows the suffering soldiers went through from horrific wounds Not always pleasant but should be read
by White Eagle
Recommended
by Jason
This is such a great creation , the detail , the language , the construction, and I can only guess at the research.
I enjoyed every minute of the read and learned so much, if you have any interest in war/ history you will not put this one down.
Buy and enjoy!
by luke perry
The author has clearly pulled no punches in describing how Gilles, despite his basic limitations, performed such intricate and important surgery on those men so horribly disfigured by war. He also describes, in similar detail, how these unfortunate men were discriminated against by the population who had no idea of what terrible life – changing injuries war can inflict on a man’s mind as well as his body. I would definitely recommend this book to those employed in the field of plastic surgery from Consultant Surgeons to psychologists, make-up specialists and theatre and ward staff. This is far more than just a book: it’s an education which should not be overlooked. Those clinicians employed in ENT, Maxillo-Facial and Dental Surgery will also find this an invaluable addition to their e-book libraries or, to their book libraries. For the price, it will be the best and most informative read to date. So don’t just take my word for it – order your copy now.
by Paul warner
I was aware of Harold Gillies and his brilliant work. This book presents it in way that not only shocks the reader but also but also makes you understand who brilliant this man was and what he did for plastic surgery as we know it today. What you tend to forget as you read the book is that everything he was trying and doing has never been done before and on such a scale. I am sure I will read this book again and again!