Showing results by author "Frederick Treves" in All Categories

This is a story in Victorian England of how in 1884 Frederick Treves, Surgeon and Lecturer in Anatomy at the London Hospital arranged for the "Elephant Man" (whose distorted grotesque face and deformed body made him a "freak") to visit the medical college next to the hospital for the purpose of a lecture. They would later become friends and Treves the savior of the man named John Merrick. This is Treves' memoir.

The Elephant Man is Treves' own firsthand account of how he met and befriended Joseph Merrick (whom he mistakenly calls John Merrick), a young man with very severe physical deformities, who was being exhibited as a sideshow freak, as half man, half elephant. Treves initially invited Merrick to his rooms in the London Hospital so as to examine him, and to ensure Merrick's admittance he gave him his card.

Step into the fascinating realm of Victorian medicine and the human experience as we explore the themes of compassion, societal perception, and the intricate relationship between science and humanity. This podcast invites you to witness the profound stories shared by Professor Treves, whose reflections on his medical practice reveal the complexities of treating those deemed different or abnormal. Each episode features a new complete audiobook that delves into the lives of extraordinary individuals like Joseph Merrick, the Elephant Man, while also shedding light on the medical practices and ...