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  • Vital Organs

  • By: Suzie Edge
  • Narrated by: Suzie Edge
  • Length: 6 hrs and 48 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (128 ratings)

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Vital Organs

By: Suzie Edge
Narrated by: Suzie Edge
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Summary

The remarkable stories of the world's most famous body parts.

Louis XIV's rear end inspired the British National Anthem.

Queen Victoria's armpit led the development of antiseptics.

Robert Jenkin's ear started a war.

All too often, historical figures feel distant and abstract; more myth and legend than real flesh and blood. These stories of bodies and its parts remind us that history's most-loved, and most-hated, were real breathing creatures who inhabited organs and limbs just like us - until they're cut off that is.

Medical historian Dr Suzie Edge investigates over 40 cases of how we've used, abused, dug up, displayed, experimented on, and worshipped body parts, including why Percy Shelley's heart refused to burn; how Yao Niang's toes started a 1000 year long ritual; why a giant's bones are making us rethink medical ethics; and the strange case of Hitler's right testicle.

©2023 Suzie Edge (P)2023 Headline Publishing Group Limited
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What listeners say about Vital Organs

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  • Overall
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A witty exploration of (in)famous anatomy

This is a thoroughly enjoyable exploration of famous body parts and the biographies of those attached to them. Wittily written and delivered.

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A fascinating collection of interesting medical stories

I really enjoyed hearing the medical history of many famous people. The narration was excellent. It also made me feel grateful that I live in an era where so much is known about the human body.

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Great listen!

I listened to this in one go, the content was fascinating and having watched the authors content on TikTok, I found her just as engaging in audio format if not more! Will definitely be listening to more of her content!

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Quirky and interesting

A really interesting book with snippets of history relating to body parts dispersed with physiological insights. There is gentle humour throughout. Peculiar pauses in the narration were off putting and I had to increase play speed.

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Humour and fact combined

A fantastic story of life and death. Very much looking forward to part two and also listening again. Well done Suzie...

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Interesting and very well presented

I love the way this is a warts-and-all account of history of the human body. Really well read by the author, with lots of humour.

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Vital organs - vital listening ☺

Loved everything about this book. Great narrating and informative in a funny way. Excellent listen

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Entertaining and educational

Suzie is an excellent communicator and this narration of her second book is superb. She manages to keep a good balance of ‘history for the masses’ and really interesting titbits for armchair historians. And those of us with history degrees who like a bit of gore!

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Brilliant!

Never enjoyed history so much! Dr Suzie not only makes it interesting, keeps it light and very enjoyable

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interesting from start to finish

Suzie has such a soothing voice. Fantastic book with tons of interesting information. I would definitely recommend anyone to listen/read.

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